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Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
cause_n	great_a	king_n	war_n	4,472	5	6.2395	4	true

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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A93347	Gods unchangeableness: or Gods continued providence, in preserving, governing, ordering and disposing of all creatures, men, actions, counsels and things, as at the beginning of the world, so to the end of the world, for ever, according to the counsel of his own will. From whence is gatherd six necessary inferences very applicable to the changes, alterations and vicissitude of these our present times. Wherein is clearly demonstrated and proved, that Oliver Cromwell is by the providence of God, Lord Protector of England, Scotland and Ireland, &c. to whom the people owe obedience, as to him whom God hath set over them. Unto which is added, the causes of discontent, repining and murmurings of men: also, some serious advertisements, and seasonable admonitions to the discontented, and reprehensions to all impetuous, arrogant murmurers. Together with answers to some cheif objections made against the Lord Protector and his present government, endeavouring (if possible) satisfaction to all men. / Therefore written and published for publicke good, by George Smith, Gent.	Smith, George, 1602 or 3-1658.	1655 (1655)	Wing S4036; Thomason E824_4; ESTC R207687	84,417	65

u there is a time of warre and there is a time of peace w We had our time of war and tasted of the bitternesse of it God now in great mercy offereth us our time of peace if we will not accept of it but provoke God by our murmuting we may fear the event Christians and Englishmen I pray consider that saying of Ahner to Joab Shall the sword devour for ever will it not be bitternesse in the latter end x You know how it proved bitter both to Abuer and to Joab Discontents Ambiand false Interest procured the sword to eat the flesh of them by the just hand of God As Abuer had shed the bloud of many in Israel in an evil cause his bloud was shed by Joab wickedly y And Joab because beshed the bloud of war in the time of peace z he was slain by the sword at the horns of th● 〈◊〉 a God hath manifested his will to us by clear providences Let us as men tha● fea● God and own his providence submit unto it and not murmure nor repine but with patience wait to see what God will yet do for us He hath multitudes of blessings to the obedient and as many curses and scourges to the murmurers If it he as the Psalmist saith a good and pleasant thing for brethren to dwell together in unity b Then it must needs be an evil and unpleasant thing for Brethren to dwell together in discord dissention strife and variance all disunited and disjointed in affections Consider what I have said and the Lord give every one a good and right understanding in all things If that I have said being well weighed be not found to be truth beleeve it not But if it be the truth follow it practise it or this that I say shall one day be a witnesse against him that readeth and slieghteth it and give me leave to adde this to the rest and tell you that those that are contemners and murmurers against the government of a Common-wealth in the Infancy of it they are he greatest enemies to that Common-wealth not hurtful only to themselves but to the whole Nation the evil example of one murmurer draws more to the imitation of that sin then the perswasion and good counsell of many can divert and so all or multitudes oft perish together As we see in the men that were sent to spy out the Land of Canaan they murmured and brought an evil report of that good Land which caused all the people to weep and murmure and cry out against Moses and Aaron c for which their murmuring they were excluded from that good Land and promise And not only so but they even those men that brought up the evil report were destroied before the Lord by a plague d Consider what God hath done he will do still For God is unchangeable It is one of his Attributes which he takes only to himself I am the Lord I change not e In him is no variablenesse neither shadow of change f Therefore it must of necessity follow from Gods unchangeablenesse that whatsoever he hath done in former times he will do the same for he is the same what judgements he hath inflicted for any sin or that he hath threatned to inflict he will still do the same therefore the Apostle tels even us Christians that whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our Learning g c. I confesse my Brerhren when I took my pen in hand to write upon this subject Discourse I intended not above three sheets of paper but the matter is encreased before me and I could not expresse my self with more brevity I would yet for further satisfaction modestly give Answers to some Objections made by some sorts of men against his Highnesse the Lord Protector which I will do in as few lines as I can possibly Object It is Objected That the cause of our war which hath cost so much bloud and treasure was To defend our Rights and Freedoms against the Tyranny of Kings to be governed under a Parliament as free People by just Laws c. But the Lord Protector assumes to himself the Authority of a King by exercising a greater Tyranny over the people then the King did to give Laws c. Answ I answer the cause of our warre as instrumental was To defend the Rights and Priviledges of Parliament the Freedom and liberty of the People and the defence of the true Religion against incroaching Tyranny and innovations subtlely insinuated by the late King and his evil Counsel But that our Warre intentionally was against the lawful Authority of Kings or against the Person of the Late King as he was King or against his just prerogative I deny Only against his evil Councel the War was raised that the Priviledges of Parliament the Liberty of the People and the truth of Religion might be defended and established This will appear by severall Parliament Declarations Protestations and solemn Covenant wherein the Parliament do declare protest and covenant as their own priviledge freedom and liberty c. to defend and preserve the Kings person his just Rights and Prerogatives so far as it might stand with the preservation of Religion and the peoples Rights But the late King standing in strong opposition to the Parliament and Liberty of the people and his Rights and Prerogatives coming in competition with or against the preservation of Religion and Priviledges of Parliament and the peoples Right He defending and taking upon himself all the evil Actions and wicked devices of his evil Councell miscarried for so providence had ordered it should be And the people as providence led them submitted to a Parliament to govern them as a free People they expected much ease and great Reformation but enjoyed Now I would ask the Objectors these two short Questions 1. If a Parliament should become more tyrannicall then a King and lay heavy burthens upon them reaching to their persons lives and estates by an unknown Law or arbitrary power and suffer Innovations to come in on every side to the contempt of Religion and adulterating every truth turning Religion into every shape to metamorphise truth whether in this case if such should be the people might not as justly cry out and take up Arms against such a Parliament as against a King 2. If all these evils could be found and sensibly felt by the people whether it were justice to themselves acceptable to God or benefit to their posterity to cast off and to abandon for ever the authority and use of Parliaments I think they would give their negative except such as would live without all order or command which is to be worse then devils Nor is the office nor just power of a King to be for ever rejected because there have been Tyrannical oppressing superstitious or idolatrous Kings for the office of a King is the Ordinance of Jehovah and cannot be made null by man To this

p. 7 8. Why Jehu was punished like Achab. p. 8. Admonition to those that God hath made punishers of others sins ib. Providence ordereth all actions and things to advance men and Nations as pleaseth him p. 9 10. Providence ordered Oliver Cromwell to be Lord Protector p. 11. Every mercy and every judgment is from God not from men but as instrumeuts in Gods hand p. 11 12. Inferences drawn from the Doctrine of Providence p. 13. All mercies to men or Nations are of Gods free grace and love ib. Particular mercies instanced p. 14 15. All Judgments are from God as recompence for sinne p. 16. Particular sinnes instanced and at ripeness in England ib. How Priviledges of Parliament were lost p. 17. A Memento of the Covenant ib. The wicked are taken in their own craftiness and fall by their own designs p. 18. Observations of some Actions and Designs of King James and of the late King p. 18 19. Six peeces of Providence very observable to the late King p. 20. Considerable Providences to the long Parliament p. 21. Six considerable Quaeries propounded p. 22. God hath set a time when he will give in mercies and when he will instict Judgements p. 22 23. And upon whom ib. And how much it shall be p. 24. But all those times and purposes in God are unknown to men p. 24 25. Mens boldness to foretell Gods times and purposes ib. Revelations and visions in these times but vain fancies p. 26. These are trying and shaking times p. 26 27. God shaketh Nations severall wayes ib. The word of God like fire shall consume all opposers p. 28. The greatest Reformation hath ever met with greatest opposition ib. Three things have long threatned Judgment to England ib. Men not able to bring any enterprise to pass by all their contrivings p. 29. The Lord Protector set up by Providence made successfull by Saints prayers ib. Although God hath set the time for every purpose which cannot be altred yet men are to be diligent in the use of all lawfull means p. 30 31. How God is said to repent or to be changed p. 32. No means must be used but lawfull means p. 33. We must not trust in means nor be too solicitous in the use of means without a particular Promise ib. Nor to use unwarrantable means to obtain lawfull things ib. Christs Kingdom is spiritual 34 He accepts not the use of the sword in the Saints hand to set up his Kingdom ib. Reasons why p. 35. The pressings in mens spirits not alwaies agreeable to the Spirit of God p. 35 36. The Spirit of God leadeth but to one truth ib. The right means to obtain Mercies and to avoid Judgments 36 37. What the Doctrine of Paul and Peter is concerning the civil Magistrate ib. The civil Magistrate hath authority to command the worship of God and to punish the contemners of it p. 38. When God hath manifested his will by the work of Providence we are to submit and not to murmur p. 39. Murmurers reproved ib. The effects of murmuring ib. The causes of mens murmurings p. 40. Severall sorts of murmurers noted p. 41 42. Order in discipline required by Christ in his Church ib. Men ascribers are God prescribers p. 43. The murmuring of Corah was against the Offices of Magistracy and Ministry p. 43 44. Advice to the people p. 44 45. Men are building new Babels ib. Kings nursing fathers to the Church under the Gospel ib. Christs enemies shall be slain miraculously by the sword that goeth out of his mouth p. 46. It was Israels sinne in asking a King before God gave him And it is a sinne in any people to reject a King when God gives him p. 47. Seditious persons like Sheba the sonne of Bichri ib. The bitterness of warre instanced in Abner and Joab ib. Five principall Objections made against the Lord Protestor Answered p. 48. The cause of our late warre what p. 49. The Lord Protector vindicated as to former promises p. 50. In his trust to the Parliament and Nation ib. In breach of Priviledges of Parliament p 51. That this is a free Parliament ib. Concerning the Militia p. 52. Concerning his Negative voice p. 53. Concerning Religion p. 54. Concerning making Laws and raising of Money p. 55. That he is no favourer of Cavaliers but as in justice he ought ib. Gods Vnchangeablenesse OR Gods continued Providence in preserving guiding ordering and disposing of all Creatures Men Actions Counsels and Things as at the beginning of the world so to the end of the world for ever According to the counsell of his own Will THat there is a God that hath created the world and all things we all acknowledge the Heathen confesse the same but know not the true God in his essence and being God hath hid himself from them farther then what is revealed to them by the works of creation therefore they frame gods to themselves according to their fancies and so make many gods We Christians do acknowledge one God and but one God distinguished by three persons Father Sonne and holy Ghost And that there is three Persons or three Hypostases and but one God is revealed to us by the Word of God contained in the holy Scriptures of the Old and New Testament where only this mystery of the Godhead is to be known therefore the wisest and most prudent of the Heathen cannot know this because they have not the sacred Scriptures made known to them But this we all prof●sse to know and to beleeve therefore it we●e in vain and lost labour to use Arguments to prove it But that this one God the God of Israel doth govern order and dispose all C●eatures Actions Things Men and Counsels according to the purpose of his own will is not so clearly acknowledged nor beleeved but contrary it is denied by some though by name they are Christians yet they go not in their practise in this particular beyond the old Sect of Stoick Philosophers who though heathen acknowledge a Deity yet leave the guidance and ordering of things to nature and so tye God to second causes Therefore it will not be unnecessary to prove that there is a secret and special providence of God that governeth and ordereth all things for indeed the want of the knowledge and practice of this is the cause of great complainings discontents and murmurings against God and against men We look at instrumental causes but see not the efficient cause the cause of all causes Jaco● did not only look to the foot of the ladder which he see in his vision but he 〈◊〉 at him who sate at the top of the Ladder a This Ladder doth literally set forth Gods Providence governing all things The steps or gradations of the Ladder are the divers means which God useth The Angels ascending and descending are the ministring spirits which God sendeth forth to execute his will as the Apostle tels us they are all ministring spirits sent forth to minister

warrantable in Scripture 2. That we must not be solicitous in the use of any means for things for which we have not a promise To use unlawful means for the obtaining of lawful things or to seek unlawfull things by any means are both equally evil As for instance Sarah did well to endeavour and expect the blessing to Jacob because she had a promise but Sarah did ill in using unlawfull means for a lawful thing Jeroboam had no promise of the Kingdom but he had a leading providence which was equivalent therefore he did not ill in using means to obtain it But it was his great sin in using unlawful means to establish himself in his Kingdom so Saul in the time of his distresse it was lawfull for him and duty to use means and endeavour to avoid the danger threatned but it was his sinne to use unlawful means to go to the Witch of Eudor * con●rary to this you see when good Hezechiah was in distresse he useth such means as is warrantable first he en●eavoureth to preserve himself and kingdom against a potent Enemy by agreement and pacification l what they could not do it though warrantable as appears of the saying of Christ m Then he flies to the rock of strength he opens the whole truth of his case unto God and trusts in him and was thereby delivered n We know David had an absolute promise of the Kingdom from God and found great opp●sition Saul persecuted him to the death yet David would not use ●n●awful means to obtain the promise nor to preserve himself he only useth such wa●rantable means as providence offered to him and trusts in God! It is true he eat of the Shew-bread which was belonging only to the Priests but this is justified by the Lord Christ in case of necessity o Mercy is to be preferred before Sacrifice so he fled to Achas king of Gath and he changed his b●haviaur and feigned himself mad p this in case of necessity to save life is not unlawfull he did not distemble with his tongue to say he was mad it may be lawful for a man to dissemble in his behaviour or discretion when it is unlawful to do it in words Nor did he do it as distrusting in God as is apparent Psa. 34. 6. he trusted in God and was delivered at that time when he changed his behaviour as is evident by the Title of that Psalm It is granted that in matters of Religion to change behaviour is sin as to bow to an Idol or to be hypocritical in shews of Religion a● it is to be feared very many are at this day and have been for honour or profit as Simon Magus did Nor did he dissemble his behaviour to the end he might murther as Cain did and as Joah did but David intended damage to none only his own safety We have a kinde of resemblance to this in the Lord Christ to try his Disciples Luk. 24. 28. The Text saith He made as if he would have gone farther And whereas it may be objected he lyed ●o Ach●sh when he said that he had been against the South of Judah and against the South of the Kenites q c. He did not lie unto him he spake doubtfully to the Question asked so as Achaz might take it in a double sense either that he had been against the people of the South of Judah and of the Kenites or against the people of the Philistims that dwelt in the adjacent Villages of the South of Judah and so indeed it was So that David lyed not nor used any unlawful means to obtain the promised Kingdom nay when opportunity was in his hand he would not hurt Saul though he then hunted after Davids life as after a Partridge on the mountains declaring his trust in God and innocency toward Saul When he had him at all advantage in the Cave and at another in his Trenches David would do no act to crosse Gods providence though animated to it by his chief Friends Contrary to Davids practice is the practice of men at this day who without any warrant from Gods Word contrary to humanity plot and contrive means to betray and subvert men and governments that are not su●able to their own desires and contrary to clear providence and that by abominable evil means And also in a sollicitous use of good means for the obtaining of things not promised nor any leading providence or probabilities to the things endeavoured for but will and fancy or the instigations of false deceiving spirits what else are the many and frequent fastings one contrary to another and appeals to God in things which tend to strife and debate and to set up the Kingdom of Christ by bloud who saith his Kingdom is not of this world or if it were he needs not the material sword to exalt him for all power is given unto him both in heaven and in earth r He is King for ever in a sp●r●tual sense but They that take the Sword shall perish by the Sword ſ He can presently have more then ten thousand Angels to cut down all his enemies at once if he please and when he please t And he no where in all the Scripture commandeth nor exciteth any of the Saints to carry on his cause in bloud nor to use endeavours by the sword to set up a fifth Monarchy neither to make war against Nations to destroy Kings as Kings the sword of Christ is the sword that goeth out of his mouth Rev. 19. 15. with this sword he will smite the Nations and by this sword were the rem●ant slain Rev. 19. 21. God refused to accept of Davids desire to build the material● Temple for Gods worship because he had been a man of war and had sh●d much bloud u And again 1 King 22. 8. Thou shalt not build a house to my Name because tho● hast shed much bloud upon the earth in my sight The Temple was a Figure of Christ and was for external worship If that which was but a Figure and materiall might not be built with bloudy hands then doubtlesse the thing typified which was the glory of Christ the spiritual Temple and spiritual worship of the New and Heavenly Jerusalem shall not be built by the sword of the Saints on earth a strange and unwarrantable opinion and a worse practice The holy Ghost is pleased to intimate to us that while the Temple was in building there was not heard neither Axe nor Hammer nor any too● of Iron all the time of the building w From whence I infer The holy and spirituall worship of Christ shall not be set up by any Instruments of war but as in the building of the Temple the stones were hewed and the materials made ready before they were brought to the building and were hewed by the men of Tyre and other Nations who did not belong to the services of that Temple So God will use the sword of

could any know him for he had disguised himself Ahab wanted not for any contrivance policy counsell nor strength to preserve himself yet maugre all policy the arrow thus shot at a venture findes out Ahab and although Ahab was armed it is by providence guided to the joynts of his armour where it enters and hits Ahab so that he died u Here providence executeth the decree of God upon Ahab You know the King of Assyria sent a mighty and invincible Army against Hezechiah King of Judah confident of successe Hezechiah unable to make opposition by any equality of strength yet this invincible host is destroyed not by any art wisedome counsell or strength of men all was wanting But an Angell of the Lord went out and smote the Camp of the Assyrians in one nigh●One hundred fourscore and five thousand w This is also the work of Providence As the Actions of men so their daies and life are ordered and appointed by God therefore saith holy Job the daies of every man are appointed by God and all those daies are ordered by providence though men know them not nor how they are secretly ordered and every hour preserved till the appointed time be come for saith Job Thou hast appointed his bounds that he cannot passe x therefore saith he I will wait till my change come y So the Pro David My times saith he are in thy hands z And as Providence ordereth the Actions and Lives of men so it doth reach to the orderings of the disposition and naturall affections of men either to love or hatred to kindnesse or to chur●ishnesse what else changed the disposition and affection of Esau from bloudy wrath to loving kindenesse when he came out against Jacob with hatred and when he meeteth him he embraceth him with loving-kindenesse and brotherly affection a So you shall see Laban pursuing Jacob in great anger and when he is on the way his disposition and anger is changed b You may see the Midianites that came out against Israel all in love one with the other and hatred against Israel fall one upon another and destroy one another providence ordereth that every one set his sword against his fellow c The like you may see in the Army of the Philistims d Yea more It is evident from sacred Scriptures That all the wicked Actions of wicked men are ordered by providence God ruleth them and orders them for the accomplishment of his secret counsel and by the ordering of those Actions God hath glory I say they are ordered by providence not as wicked men intend or act them they intend and act out of a wicked principle to a wicked end but God orders them otherwise to effect something of his own decree and turns it to good in the doing his will The action and the sin in the action is their own but the ordering of the action is of God All wicked actions of wicked obdurated Pharaoh providence ordered to the glory of God St Paul hath this expression For the Scripture saith of Pharaoh even for this cause have I raised thee up that I might shew my power in thee and that my Name might be declared throughout all the earth e Rom. 9. 17. His cruelty in destroying all the male-children of the Hebrews Moses being cast into the River the repulse that Pharaoh gave to Moses message from God his encrease of the burthens and labours on the Hebrews and his oft refusing to let the people go c. Providence ordered all these things to the advancement of Gods glory So it is said of Sihon King of Heshbon that God hardened his heart and why that Sihon King of Heshbon out of the bitternesse and envy of his own heart against Israel should refuse to suffer them to passe peaceably through his Countrey to the end that Israel might have a just cause to engage warre with them and destroy them f Was there ever so great an Act of wickednesse acted in the world or invented as that horrid conspiracy of Herod Pontius Pilate Judas the Gentiles and the people of the Jews against the Lord Christ yet providence ordered all this and brought the greatest good out of that most horrid act The Scripture saith plainly that all this was no more but what was before-determined should be done g St John speaking of the unbelieving Jews from that place Isa. 6. 10. saith God hath blinded their eyes and hardened their hearts h and Esay saith the Lord hath powred upon them the spirit of deep sleep and hath chosed their eyes The Prophets Rulers and Seers hath he covered i God is not only a bare permitter of evil actions in men but he is a powerful agent ordering of those evil Actions by his wise and secret providence to serve to the purpose of his own will the sinne is their own but the guidance of the Action is Gods ordered to his own glory Job tels us that the deceiver and the deceived are both his k he ordereth both If a Prophet be deceived when he hath spoken a thing I the Lord have deceived him l that is such Prophets as Ahabs four hundred Prophets were whom Satan could not deceive till he was bid to go and prevail All the actions of the devil are ordered by providence and there is not nor cannot be any action of the devil but what is extreamly wicked Remarkable is that place of St John Rev. 17. 13. speaking of that foul apostacy of Papacy he saith They shall give their power and strength to the beast He saith not they will give but they shall give as a thing that God had pre-ordained to be much more may be said this I hope may suffice to prove this Truth Yet furrhermore you shall see that as God orders by his providence all Men and all Actions of all sorts their times their dispositions c. so he ordereth the very secrets of the heart and the answer of the tongue The Wiseman tels us The Kings heart is in the hand of God be turns it as the Rivers of waters whithersoever he will m And the answer of the tongue is from the Lord n to this effect is that saying of Christ to his Disciples take no thought what you shall speak for it shall be given to you what to speak at the same hour o The man thar shall consult within himself and debate in his own thoughts and come to a full resolurion what he will answer or speak to this or that thing so as that he thinks nothing shall alter him yet that man when he comes to put his resolves into action shall speak or do as providence shall order and direct it may be quite contrary to what he resolved something will come in between the preparation and the action Caiaphas the High Priest doubtlesse spake not those words of himself when he said It was expedient that one man should die for the

common Enemy is vigilant watching and seeking all advantages against us if God should as they hope give us into their hand were it not just with God And were it not by our own procurements may not God say to us as to Israel Thou hast destroyed thy self but in me is thy help r Give me leave ye people of England my Brethren to put you in remembrance of one sin more And it is not a little one of which I fear many thousands are guilty more or lesse You made a Solemn Covenant with your hands lift up to the most High God in the time of your distresse for Reformation and defence of Religion as should be agreeable to the Word of God not the established Discipline in Scotland nor England but for the setling one Discipline in the three Nations and that is no lesse then the command of God Ye shall have one Ordinance both for the stranger and for him that is born in the Land ſ I fear we are so far short of performing what we covenanted in this particular that we or very many have purposely acted the quite contrary We covenanted against Popery and Prelacy which is God be blessed in a great measure cast off But heresie schism blasphemy and prophanesse are encreased which we also covenanted to extirpate We covenanted to preserve Priviledges of Parliament and liberty of the people but where are they if lost who lost them the power of the Enemy could not take them from us but lost they are or in great measure lost I will not dispute whether a Parliament or an Army lost them or took them from us for it was neither It was self-seeking that lost all Now hopeful by providence to be again restored by his Highnesse stirred up by Providence I hope with confidence to be Englands deliverer As to that part of the Covenant that concerned the late King And that which concerned the Union of the three Nations I conceive them to be lesse substantiall and more conditional conditions and circumstances not well observed makes the forfeiture on that side Providence I trust will put us into a better Union then we intended or could then think of God worketh all things after the counsell of his own will I charge no particular person nor blame any more then my self I know my own heart is deceitful to my self I cannot say so much of any other mans All my aim and desire is as to my self so to all others to stir them up to considerate remembrance that we are yet under such a Covenant and that I and every one may examine whether we have done our duty or not and what we finde to be wanting in us let us in the strength of the Almighty endeavour to make up by humbling our souls before God whom we have offended For the Covenant was lawfull or it was unlawfull if lawfull we have provoked the high God by our sleighting of it if unlawfull we have dishonoured God in swearing before him to that which he would not own so there is great cause and good ground why we should be deeply humbled in the presence of God Every particular person covenanted to reform himself and to endeavour Reformation in others and each one to endeavour to go before another in example of real Reformation if we have done what we were able in this particular we have done well if not sinne lieth at our door and judgement will surely enter into our houses for as God is true and just he will avenge the quarrell of his Covenant t Let no man great or small promise to himself safety nor think it is fogotten by God though it be cast off by men Joshua and the Princes of Israel made a Covenant with the Gibeonites with whom they might not make Covenants but had commission to slay them yet Saul four hundred years after brake that Covenant And for the breach of that Covenant God brought a famine three years year after year in the time of David until execution was done upon Sauls house u God takes notice of all our doings but especially of our keeping or breaking of Covenants Because God is as it were called from his place to come to witnesse our sincerity and uprightnesse the breach whereof God calleth the pollution of his Name k and for it threatneth Israel to destroy them by the sword of an enemy and by the pestilence And to remove them into all Kingdoms captives which in the time appointed was made good Gods forbearance is no acquittance though men foolishly imagine it so Because sentence is not speedily executed against an evil work therefore the hearts of the Sons of men is set in them to do evil l Though God suffers for a time yet all that time Providence ordereth Actions and Things for safety to some and for destruction to others And this brings us to the third Inference The third Inference is That the evil designs of men their wicked counsels their aims and ends are all ordered by providence and turned contrary to their designs to be their own ruine This truth is obvious it is proved by Scripture and by common and daily experience The Lord saith the Psalmist is known by his judgements which he executeth the wicked is snared by the work of his own hand m This is one of Gods Judgements upon wicked men and wicked counsels they shall be snared by their own works He taketh the wicked in their own craftinesse and the counsell of the froward is carried ●eadlong n yea his own counsel shall cast him down o Thus Haman the Agagite was snared in his own wicked devises and Ahitophels own counsell became his ruine You know how it fared with Rehoboam the Son of Solomon and with Jeroboam the Son of Nebat Rehoboam forsook the counsell of the old men that were counsellors to his Father and followed the counsell of young men like himself The people come unto him for ease of their heavy burthens which Solomon his Father had laid upon them He by his counsell gives them a very rough Answer and tels them his father chastised them with whips but he would chastise them with scorpions He would adde more to their burthens heavy oppression and his finger should be thicker then his Fathers loins p but God turned his own aim and all his counsell to his losse Ten Tribes revolted from him and from his Family for ever and made Jeroboam their King Jeroboam he fearing lest the people of Israel should return again to Rehoboam if they should go up to Jerusalem to offer Sacrifice therefore to establish himself in the Kingdom he took counsel and made two Altars and two Calves of gold pretending it was too far a journey for the people to go up to Jerusalem q and he set one in Bethel and the other in Dan and he made of the lowest and basest of the people to be Priests in the high places Now this

publike day of Humiliation for emergent causes named which God will doubtlesse accept of as of late he did by a signet of his favour when we by his Highnesse order sought God for Rain in our great necessity Although some who stile themselves Saints not only refused to joyn in our Petitions but used unchristian speeches to Gods dishonour and contempt of the duty And truly it was sad to observe the general neglect of our late Solemn Fast that only Shops should be shut and places for recreation full as I was informed but Churches shut or empty in respect of the numbers of Inhabitants many omitting the duty out of carnal respects and many out of will because it was commanded and because the end crossed their self-interests I do affirm that it is no lesse a duty in the Christian Magistrate to command the duties and performance of duties for the true worship of God then it was duty to the Magistrate under the Law but the Magistrate under the Law did command such duties as Asa Jehosaphat Jehojada Hezckiah and others We know that Asa did not only command Reformation of Gods worship bur annexed to his command a great punishment i And Ezra did the like k And the Apostle Paul diminisheth nothing of the Magistrates Authority under the Gospel nor is there any Scripture that offers the least doubt of that their authority but rather makes it greater Heb. 10. 28. therefore I say that the neglect or rather contempt of such duties and the suffering of it uncontrolled by the Magistrate will in stead of a blessing bring a curse as is threatned by the Prophet Jer 48. 10. but the due observance of the holy and spiritual worship of God held forth by the Magistrate and practised by the Minister and People is the chief means to divert the judgements we fear and procure the blessings we want I come now to the sixth and last Inference and that is That when God hath effected and done his will in any thing visibly made known to us by the work of providenee we are not to murmure nor repine though it be in any thing contrary to our expectation or desire or though it be to our great affliction but to submit to it willingly only by praier to seek unto God and patiently wait his time and means for deliverance This hath been the practice of the godly in all ages k Thus holy David did while his childe was yet alive he used all lawful means for the life of it But when God had done his will and the childe was dead he left off to mourn and murmured not but patiently bear the affliction Thus did just and righteous Job he feared his Sons might sinne and procure Gods displeasure he therefore used the right means to prevent it m but when Providence had brought that to passe which he feared and God had visibly manifested his pleasure Job was patient he murmured not neither against providence nor instruments but blessed the Name of the Lord n The Church under her great affliction murmured not they acknowledged Gods hand and complained of their sins the cause of all o and waited patiently for their deliverance It is good saith the Prophet that a man should both hope and quietly wait for the salvation of the Lord p Surely saith Job it is meet to be said unto God I have born chastisement I will not offend any more q And the Apostle exhorts that we be followers of them that by faith and patience inherit the promise r But to murmure against providence is wickednesse and the effects of murmuring and discontents is very dangerous Dangerous to a mans self and bringeth others into dangers too You know what became of the murmuring Israelites in the wildernesse from time to time as is recorded in the Books of Exodus and Numbers Consider the case of murmuring Korah and all his murmuring company the earth opened and swallowed them up ſ This was the immediate hand of God not Moses nor Aaron yet such was the rebellious hearts of the people that the next day they all fall to murmuring against Moses and against Aaron and accused them that they had killed tho Lords people t And for this there died presently of them fourteen thousand and seven hundred by a sudden plague u You know that for this sin of murmuring all the people that came out of Egypt from twenty years old and upward were excluded from the promise except Caleb and Ioshua w Hence the Apostle exhorts us Christians not to tempt God as they tempted him nor to murmure as they murmured and were destroied for saith he All these things happened unto them for our examples x God is the same to us that he was to them only he hath divers dispensations of his judgements he is an unchangeable God for evert If we sin like them that went before us we shall be as greatly punished as they were yea greater Though God do not so usually strike men suddenly for sin as formerly yet there is greater wrath to come Let us a little consider the cause of mens murmuring and see if it do not arise from a carnal heart a carnal man propounds ends to himself as the Merchants St Iames speaks of that say they will go to such a City or such a Countrey and buy and sell and get gain but say not if God will so it is with men that seek their own ends in any thing they propound this or that but God is not in their thoughts they say no● if God will but we will do this or that thing or would have this or that done c. It may be nay it is common with these men that they will have the Name of God in their mouths but as the Psalmist speaks God is not in all their thoughts And therefore when their wils and designs are crossed they are angry and repine against God and men Thus the people of Israel did in the wildernesse they met with crosse providences which they looked not for and they could not bear it but cry out against Moses saying because there were no graves in Egypt Hast thou brought us to die in the wildernesse y and again wherefore hast thou brought us out of Egypt to kill us in the wildernesse our children and our cattel z Thus at this day we have seen many strange Providences such as we looked not for and men have had many and diverse designs aims and ends but meet with crosse Providences which they cannot bear nay resolve they will not bear they complain and cry out against this and that thing but specially they murmure against God and own not his providence in governing the world Therefore they also murmure at the thing done and against the Instruments doing it this is I say against God himself for he alone orders every thing and every Action as is proved in the beginning of this