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
swallowed thee vp shall be far away Esa 15. 16. 17. 18. 19. Therefore all you godly people that are in any trouble or aduersitie remember this and perswade your selues hereof that Gods heart Gods loue and Gods fauour is not with-drawne from you although it appeareth that your outward state is changed the Lord loueth you now as well as he did when you were in your greatest prosperitie God loued Dauid as well when hee was in trouble and hunted vp and downe like a hound as he did when he sat vpon his Princely throne Yea Gods fatherly heart if I may so speake with reuerence is then more friendly vnto you when your state is most crosse and feeble-some as wee see that a louing mother is much more mooued to pittie and compassion to seeke reliefe for her Childe when it is sicke then when it is whole and sound This did Iob beleeue and therewith comforted himselfe and boldly sayd vnto God that then shewed so strange a countenance towardes him as Ioseph did seeme to shew a strange countenance towardes his brethren as if hee would haue punished them and yet meant it not Gen 42. 7. and these things hast thou hid in thine heart I know that this is with thee Iob 10. 13. and therefore concludeth and sayth Though he slay mee yet will I trust in him Iob 13. 15. So the Lord also himselfe witnesseth that hee doth not willingly suffer his people to fall into any trouble but is moued thereunto that he may doe them good at the latter end Deut. 8. 16. Vpon this ground did Dauid also comfort himselfe in all his troubles and said to his afflicted soule Why art thou cast downe O my soule and why art thou disquieted within mee hope thou in God for I shall yet prayse him who is the health of my countenance and my God Psa 42. 11. Yea at the last it shall for certaine goe well with the godly and to that end heare what the Psalmist saith Marke the perfect and behold the vpright for the end of that man is peace But the transgressours shall bee destroyed together the end of the wicked shall bee cut off But the saluation of the righteous is of the Lord hee is their strength in the time of trouble And the Lord shall helpe them and deliuer them he shall deliuer them from the wicked and saue them because they trust in him Psalme 37. 37. 38. 39. 40. And although the godly here in this world endure tribulation and anguish with Lazarus yet they shall receiue the more comfort Luke 16. 25. All teares shall be then wipt away from their eyes Apoc. 7. 17. and euerlasting ioy shall bee vpon their heads they shall obtaine ioy and gladnesse and sorrow and sighing shall flee away Esay 53. 10. and 51. 11. Therefore let the godly comfort themselues with these words in all their sorrowes and troubles ⸪ CHAP. XIII That wee cannot measure the state of men in regard of God by wealth or pouertie by prosperitie or aduersitie that befalleth them in this world BY all that hath beene said and shewed before it plainely appeareth that in this world it fareth for the most part alike both with the godly and vngodly from whence it followeth vndoubtedly and cannot be denied that we cannot measure the state of men in regard of God by that which happeneth vnto them here on earth Iobs friends may imagine because hee was so sore plagued that certainely hee was a very wicked man and hated of God And men by nature are much addicted by outward appearance to iudge of the state of a man in regard of GOD looke touching this Acts 28. 4. 5. 6. Luk. 13. 1. 2. Deut. 29. 19. 20. And marke wee how contrarily the blind Idolaters being of this opinion iudged of their state to God-ward in Ieremies dayes But we will certainely say they doe whatsoeuer thing goeth foorth out of our owne mouthes to burne incense to the Queene of heauen and to poure out drinke offerings vnto her as wee haue done wee and our Fathers our Kings and our Princes in the Cities of Iuda and in the streets of Ierusalem for then we had plentie of victuals and were well and saw no euill But since we 〈…〉 off to burne incense to the Queene of heauen and 〈…〉 drinke offerings out vnto her wee haue wanted all things and haue beene consumed by the sword and by famine Ier. 44. 17. 18. But Christians must neither doe nor thinke so else they shall often by occasion of such actions Mâ—ke the heartes of the righteous sad whom the Lord hath not made sad and strengthen the handes of the wicked Ezechiel 13. 22. Since that wee haue now sufficiently shewed that the Lord oftentimes in his anger sendeth men prosperitie and in his fauour aduersitie Must we may some say make no account at all of that which happeneth vnto the children of men here in this world be it prosperitie or aduersitie but passe it ouer as it is I answer no we must haue a due respect and regard to that which befalleth men and marke what prosperitie or aduersitie happeneth vnto them and how it fareth both with them and vs yet not to this end by the exteriour accurrents of this life to iudge what the state of man is towards God but on the contrary by the aduersitie or prosperitie of men to know what we are to conceiue of the worke of God wrought amongst men and by the knowledge of the seuerall accidents of prosperitie or aduersitie that happen vnto the children of men in what manner soeuer they bee laid vpon them or receiued by them learne to know Gods affection intent purpose and speciall marke whereat he aymeth in sending prosperitie or aduersitie As for example some great crosse and tribulation befalleth a godly man by which yet wee must not iudge that he himselfe or his cause is bad but that the same trouble which happeneth vnto him is sent for a further triall and purging of him 1. Pet. 1. 6. 7. Tribulation also falleth vpon an vngodly man that therein hardeneth his heart towards Gods punishments herevpon wee must conclude that the trouble that falleth vpon such a man as farre as we can iudge is as it were a consuming fire and smoke of the eternall fire 1. Sam. 2. 25. and Chapter 4. Againe some godly man hath much ioy and prosperitie this when we behold we must conceiue that it is a blessing that God bestoweth vpon him to incourage him the more to goe forward in the way of godlinesse Psalme 1 18. and some other man that is vngodly hath great wealth and much pleasure and yet hee is rather worse and more wicked then he was before Deut. 29. 19. Wherevpon we may conclude that his prosperity as farre as we can coniecture is a meanes of fatting him for the day of slaughter Ier. 12. 3. In like manner when the people of God sometimes forget themselues touching their proceedings in their good course of
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.
giuen vs a liuing soule and hath taught vs more then the beasts of the earth and made vs wiser then the fowles of heauen Iob 35. 11. to this end hee hath set vs vpon the stage of the world that wee might plainely see and marke for our comfort and consolation the waies of the children of men here vpon earth together with the seuerall euents that proceed and spring from thence by Gods heauenly prouidence Vnreasonable beasts that liue here among vs as Dogs and Catts see what is done in the world and see it with as cleere eyes and many times better and plainlier then men doe If man then doe not endeauour himselfe with the inward eyes of his vnderstanding not onely to see and marke what is done or what passeth in the world but which is more to marke the finger of God to bee therein and thereby to learne the truth and constancy of God such a man differeth not much from a beast or an vnreasonable creature Psal 49. 21. Psal 32-11 in regarde of spirituall life whereon the difference betweene the one and the other wholy dependeth yea hee is therein worse then an vnreasonable beast for heauie plagues hang ouer the heads of such carelesse and brutish persons as haue no regarde vnto the workes of the Lord. Heare what the Psalmist sayth because they regard not the workes of the Lord nor the operation of his handes hee shall destroy them and not build them vp Psal 28. 5. which in truth is a most fearefull threatning and sheweth that God esteemeth and holdeth such carelesse men to bee most wicked To which purpose also Salomon sayth Wicked men regard not that which is right but those that feare the Lord marke all things Pro. 20. 5. For this cause wee are often times warned and aduised to this diligent marking in holy Scripture Seeke you out of the booke of the Lord and reade noe of these shall fayle none shall misse her mate for his mouth it hath commaunded and his spirit it hath gathered them together Esay 34. 16. Iosu 23. 14. this also Iobs friendes and Iob himselfe also marked diligently in the whole course of their liues as in the whole booke of Iob it is sufficiently declared And all the misvnderstanding that they had among themselues touching Gods workes partly consisted heerein that they vnderstoode not the word of God so plainely as wee doe and partly also by reason of the extraordinary strange and vnaccustomed dealing of GOD with IOB which hee as then for a time layd vpon him for a warning comfort and strengthening of all his people as long as the world should endure as also to that end he causeth it to bee written Ier. 4. 13. Now from hence also it further appeareth that to the end wee may truely to our comfort and with some fruite consider of all the workes of God wrought among the children of men there are 4. thinges specially and very necessarily to bee obserued First some distinct knowledge of Gods proceedings manifested vnto vs in the holy Scriptures Secondly a diligent marking of all Gods workes wrought heere among the children of men Thirdly a comparing of that which he doth in this world with that which hee witnesseth in his word Fourthly a constant noting of the seuerall fruites that springe from the finding out of the truth of God opened vnto vs in his word and works And of all these 4. in the chapters ensuing wee will speake some what more at large CHAP. XVI Of the distinct knowledge of these things which God in his word touching the gouernement of this world hath manifested vnto vs being very fit and necessarie for the drawing of spirituall profitt from workes of God wrought heere among men THat the certaine knowledge of the will of God opened vnto vs in the holy Scriptures touching the gouernment of the world is necessarily to be had that wee may reape profit by the works of God done among the children of men it is manifest for how can any man else knowe and vnderstande whether that which happeneth in the world agreeth with that which God hath written in his word Since it must needs be that if a man doe not vse to reade Gods word nor know what God therein setteth downe vnto vs they must of force erre when they take vpon them to iudge of Gods workes and to them it may be sayd as Christ sayd to the Saduces You erre not knowing the Scriptures Mat. 22. 29. For this cause as many learned men that are well read in the letter of the holy Scriptures yet many times can not well iudge of the actions and proceedings of men because they haue not vsed to compare that which God hath spoken in his worde with that which dayly by his hand hee bringeth to passe in the gouernmēt of the world so it is certaine that those that are not accustomed to reade peruse the holy Scriptures and therefore know them not can not with any spirituall vnderstanding or profit marke Gods works here on earth among the sonnes of men It is necessary therefore for euery one that wil discharge and vnburthen his conscience therein to be conuersant in the holy Scriptures And it is a most notorious in gratitude vnthankefulnes and a damnable carelesse slouth among great smale young and old that seeing God our great God the maker of the whole world that setteth vp and puileth downe Kinges Dan. 2. 12. hath vouchsafed as it were with his owne hande to write a booke for vs touching the order that hee doth and will hold and obserue in the gouerning of this worlde that thereby wee might certainely and sufficiently knowe his meaning and order our wayes and by the light of the same booke might be holpen well and wisely to iudge of all Gods workes touching the gouernment of the world for our comfort and consolation Rom. 15. 4. that wee miserable poore and wicked children of men that many times are so curious to search into and to read the Histories and Iournals of mortall mens actions that scarce haue trauelled through any small parte of the world and that would esteeme it a great honor and fauour and would with all thankefullnes embrace and run after it If wee might be permitted to enter into the studie of a great potentate of this worlde to reade Arcana Imperij the order that hee holdeth in his gouernement that yet I say we poore simple wretches are found to be so slow and carelesse of the looking into Gods booke whereas notwithstanding the same booke so highly both in generall and perticular specially concerneth vs being that which setteth downe vnto vs the state of our euerlasting saluation or condemnation and how wee must heere on earth behaue our selues vnder the gouernement of our God that heereafter in the worlde to come wee may alwayes and for euerliue with him in heauen Iohn 3. 39. This in truth is an vnreasonable ingratitude and a most woefull and damnable contempt Therefore