wicked_a men._n i_o shall_v handle_v they_o by_o way_n of_o observation_n the_o first_o be_v that_o god_n almighty_n be_v just_a and_o holy_a and_o good_a even_o in_o his_o govern_v the_o sin_n of_o wicked_a man_n this_o shall_v be_v to_o vindicate_v the_o holiness_n and_o justice_n and_o purity_n of_o almighty_a god_n in_o his_o concurrence_n with_o the_o sinful_a action_n of_o man_n it_o be_v one_o of_o the_o most_o difficult_a point_n in_o religion_n and_o one_o of_o the_o great_a depth_n of_o the_o providence_n of_o god_n to_o clear_v it_o up_o i_o shall_v begin_v with_o this_o story_n that_o be_v joseph_n being_n sell_v into_o egypt_n here_o be_v two_o concur_v cause_n his_o brethren_n sell_v he_o and_o yet_o god_n send_v he_o so_o it_o be_v say_v in_o the_o act_n the_o patriarch_n move_v with_o envy_n sell_v joseph_n into_o egypt_n i_o shall_v here_o clear_v up_o god_n justice_n in_o this_o matter_n we_o read_v there_o be_v first_o a_o determination_n and_o decree_n of_o god_n to_o advance_v joseph_n for_o the_o preservation_n of_o jacob_n and_o his_o family_n well_o to_o bring_v this_o to_o pass_v god_n intend_v to_o make_v use_n of_o his_o brethren_n and_o their_o envy_n and_o malice_n to_o sell_v he_o into_o egypt_n god_n do_v not_o infuse_v malice_n into_o they_o nor_o stir_v they_o up_o to_o sin_n for_o that_o be_v in_o their_o heart_n before_o but_o first_o god_n do_v not_o hinder_v they_o you_o hear_v before_o how_o when_o they_o first_o determine_v to_o murder_n joseph_n god_n will_v not_o let_v it_o go_v that_o way_n but_o when_o they_o have_v a_o mind_n to_o sell_v he_o he_o do_v suffer_v they_o because_o it_o be_v for_o his_o end_n and_o observe_v how_o god_n order_v it_o that_o the_o merchant_n shall_v happen_v to_o come_v by_o that_o very_a day_n to_o who_o his_o brethren_n sell_v he_o it_o be_v a_o hard_a question_n why_o this_o affliction_n be_v rather_o attribute_v to_o god_n than_o to_o they_o it_o be_v not_o you_o that_o send_v i_o hither_o but_o god_n but_o the_o reason_n be_v god_n permission_n and_o offer_v they_o a_o occasion_n in_o his_o providence_n which_o he_o know_v will_v take_v effect_n and_o therefore_o it_o be_v say_v god_n do_v it_o i_o shall_v as_o brief_o as_o i_o can_v open_a and_o answer_v this_o question_n in_o all_o the_o sin_n of_o the_o world_n let_v god_n be_v true_a and_o every_o man_n a_o liar_n we_o must_v abhor_v and_o detest_v all_o that_o do_v in_o the_o least_o attribute_n any_o sin_n to_o be_v god_n god_n neither_o infuse_v wickedness_n nor_o tempt_v or_o stir_v up_o people_n to_o sin_n but_o only_o by_o his_o providence_n permit_v order_n and_o govern_v it_o for_o his_o own_o wise_a and_o holy_a ends._n i_o will_v here_o answer_v some_o objection_n brief_o 1_o you_o will_v say_v how_o can_v it_o stand_v with_o the_o holiness_n of_o god_n to_o permit_v sin_n when_o he_o can_v hinder_v it_o i_o answer_v it_o can_v be_v no_o stain_n to_o god_n holiness_n for_o god_n do_v but_o leave_v the_o 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they_o use_v to_o harden_v themselves_o with_o and_o abuse_v to_o sin_n but_o the_o very_a blessing_n and_o mercy_n of_o god_n again_o as_o to_o the_o other_o thing_n god_n order_v sin_n to_o his_o own_o glory_n and_o the_o good_a of_o his_o people_n that_o can_v be_v any_o objection_n against_o god_n holiness_n or_o justice_n what_o be_v more_o reasonable_a than_o that_o god_n shall_v bring_v glory_n to_o himself_o from_o wicked_a man_n and_o devil_n force_n glory_n out_o of_o they_o above_z and_z contrary_n to_o their_o intent_n it_o be_v a_o instance_n of_o the_o great_a wisdom_n power_n and_o goodness_n of_o god_n that_o there_o can_v be_v no_o evil_a but_o he_o can_v regulate_v and_o order_v for_o good_a end_n but_o than_o you_o may_v object_v do_v not_o the_o scripture_n say_v god_n stir_v up_o wicked_a man_n and_o blind_v they_o and_o harden_v they_o and_o send_v they_o strong_a delusion_n that_o they_o may_v believe_v a_o lie_n and_o be_v damn_v how_o can_v you_o in_o this_o vindicate_v the_o purity_n and_o holiness_n of_o god_n i_o answer_v in_o all_o those_o place_n where_o god_n be_v say_v to_o harden_v the_o heart_n etc._n etc._n we_o must_v understand_v in_o some_o place_n it_o import_v but_o a_o mere_a permission_n of_o god_n or_o at_o most_o but_o withdraw_v his_o grace_n and_o leave_v man_n up_o to_o the_o temptation_n of_o wicked_a man_n and_o devil_n second_o god_n never_o withdraw_v his_o grace_n from_o wicked_a man_n till_o they_o by_o their_o former_a sin_n have_v deserve_v it_o so_o pharaoh_n first_o harden_v his_o own_o heart_n and_o then_o god_n in_o a_o judicial_a way_n harden_v his_o heart_n also_o and_o belove_v what_o be_v more_o reasonable_a than_o that_o they_o that_o resist_v god_n motion_n and_o give_v up_o themselves_o wilful_o to_o be_v seduce_v that_o god_n shall_v leave_v they_o up_o to_o the_o seduction_n of_o the_o devil_n and_o wicked_a man_n he_o do_v but_o punish_v they_o with_o their_o own_o sin_n the_o next_o and_o great_a objection_n and_o most_o popular_a in_o all_o age_n of_o the_o world_n be_v god_n prosper_v wicked_a man_n in_o evil_a way_n and_o afflict_v good_a man_n in_o good_a way_n this_o be_v the_o great_a objection_n of_o the_o heathen_n especial_o the_o epicurean_o and_o it_o have_v be_v a_o great_a stumble_n to_o godly_a man_n i_o remember_v four_o holy_a man_n in_o scripture_n be_v shake_v and_o almost_o overthrow_v at_o the_o thought_n of_o it_o as_o job_n job_n 21.6_o david_n psal_n 73._o jeremiah_n jer._n 12.1_o and_o habakkuk_n hab._n 1.13_o certain_o to_o heathen_n and_o such_o as_o deny_v future_a reward_n and_o punishment_n i_o do_v not_o know_v a_o great_a objection_n but_o to_o this_o i_o answer_v 1._o it_o be_v certain_a that_o this_o life_n be_v not_o intend_v by_o god_n to_o be_v the_o place_n of_o punishment_n and_o reward_n but_o only_o as_o a_o preparation_n for_o another_o life_n 2._o no_o man_n or_o people_n be_v ever_o so_o righteous_a but_o they_o have_v sin_n enough_o in_o they_o which_o their_o own_o conscience_n tell_v they_o deserve_v the_o great_a punishment_n 3._o i_o do_v consider_v that_o wicked_a man_n when_o god_n advance_v they_o and_o give_v they_o success_n it_o be_v not_o for_o their_o sake_n or_o out_o of_o love_n to_o they_o but_o because_o he_o raise_v they_o up_o in_o his_o providence_n to_o be_v his_o instrument_n to_o punish_v other_o wicked_a man_n he_o do_v not_o give_v they_o any_o success_n for_o their_o own_o desert_n now_o belove_v this_o be_v the_o most_o reasonable_a thing_n in_o the_o world_n in_o all_o kingdom_n the_o vile_a of_o man_n be_v make_v use_n of_o for_o executioner_n and_o indeed_o there_o be_v none_o fit_a for_o this_o work_n but_o the_o wicked_a do_v a_o shepherd_n set_v his_o sheep_n to_o worry_v one-another_o godly_a man_n be_v not_o fit_a or_o qualify_v to_o kill_v or_o plunder_v other_o man_n unjust_o therefore_o i_o say_v god_n do_v not_o make_v instrument_n of_o wicked_a man_n for_o their_o goodness_n but_o because_o they_o only_o be_v fit_a for_o such_o work_n as_o this_o be_v to_o be_v god_n executioner_n i_o remember_v a_o story_n when_o phocas_n have_v murder_v the_o emperor_n his_o master_n and_o make_v himself_o emperor_n and_o a_o holy_a man_n complain_v why_o god_n shall_v set_v so_o wicked_a a_o man_n over_o the_o nation_n the_o answer_n be_v they_o do_v not_o deserve_v a_o better_a it_o be_v for_o the_o same_o reason_n that_o god_n send_v turk_n to_o oppress_v christian_n again_o consider_v that_o wicked_a man_n even_o in_o their_o wicked_a action_n have_v secret_a lash_n of_o conscience_n or_o if_o they_o be_v advance_v a_o little_a while_n yet_o as_o the_o psalmist_n
physician_n can_v make_v use_n of_o poison_n to_o expel_v poison_n so_o though_o sin_n in_o itself_o be_v so_o evil_a whole_o evil_a yet_o god_n almighty_a can_v make_v it_o serve_v his_o best_a and_o wise_a end_n for_o the_o truth_n of_o this_o proposition_n i_o may_v observe_v to_o you_o that_o the_o great_a action_n that_o ever_o god_n bring_v to_o pass_v in_o the_o world_n have_v be_v occasion_v by_o the_o sin_n of_o wicked_a man_n as_o the_o occasion_n of_o send_v christ_n be_v the_o sin_n of_o adam_n and_o the_o bring_v to_o pass_v our_o redemption_n can_v not_o be_v do_v without_o the_o concurrence_n of_o wicked_a action_n as_o act_v 2.22_o by_o wicked_a hand_n you_o have_v crucify_v and_o slay_v he_o say_v the_o apostle_n and_o act_n 4.27_o for_o of_o a_o truth_n against_o thy_o holy_a child_n jesus_n herod_n pontius_n pilate_n and_o the_o people_n of_o israel_n be_v gather_v together_o consider_v how_o much_o wickedness_n there_o be_v in_o that_o act_n the_o treachery_n of_o 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suffer_v he_o proclaim_v himself_o the_o lord_n god_n merciful_a and_o long_a suffering_n where_o can_v there_o have_v be_v room_n for_o the_o exercise_n of_o his_o patience_n and_o long-suffering_a if_o there_o be_v no_o sin_n so_o rom._n 9_o 22._o how_o shall_v we_o know_v god_n patience_n if_o with_o much_o long_a suffering_n he_o do_v not_o endure_v the_o vessel_n of_o wrath_n fit_v to_o destruction_n 2._o the_o glory_n of_o his_o justice_n god_n punish_a of_o sinner_n can_v not_o have_v be_v know_v without_o the_o permission_n of_o sin_n i_o will_v get_v myself_o glory_n over_o pharaoh_n how_o so_o by_o execute_v my_o judgement_n upon_o he_o for_o sin_n for_o this_o cause_n have_v i_o raise_v thou_o up_o that_o i_o may_v show_v forth_o my_o power_n in_o thou_o and_o make_v know_v my_o glory_n in_o all_o the_o earth_n and_o there_o be_v no_o question_n but_o the_o glory_n of_o god_n be_v show_v forth_o in_o the_o manifestation_n of_o his_o wrath_n both_o here_o and_o hereafter_o 3._o the_o glory_n of_o his_o mercy_n and_o free_a grace_n appear_v in_o pardon_v sin_n how_o can_v that_o have_v be_v do_v if_o there_o have_v be_v no_o sin_n rom._n 5.20_o where_o sin_n abound_v grace_n do_v much_o more_o abound_v in_o a_o word_n all_o the_o riches_n of_o god_n mercy_n and_o goodness_n and_o free_a grace_n to_o the_o creature_n suppose_v sin_n it_o can_v not_o be_v without_o sin_n have_v man_n remain_v without_o sin_n christ_n have_v never_o die_v there_o have_v be_v no_o covenant_n of_o grace_n 4._o the_o glory_n of_o god_n admirable_a wisdom_n appear_v in_o order_v and_o govern_v the_o sin_n of_o the_o world_n the_o chief_a part_n of_o his_o wisdom_n consist_v in_o bring_v to_o pass_v those_o end_n by_o mean_n that_o seem_v most_o improbable_a and_o unlikely_a thus_o it_o be_v in_o matter_n of_o state-policy_n it_o be_v the_o great_a part_n of_o wisdom_n to_o know_v how_o to_o govern_v evil_a and_o discontent_a subject_n there_o be_v nothing_o in_o the_o world_n so_o contrary_a in_o itself_o to_o the_o glory_n of_o god_n as_o sin_n be_v nothing_o that_o god_n more_o hate_v now_o be_v not_o this_o the_o glory_n of_o his_o wisdom_n to_o make_v wicked_a man_n and_o devil_n themselves_o when_o they_o strive_v most_o to_o oppose_v his_o glory_n than_o to_o do_v he_o most_o honour_n i_o will_v give_v you_o several_a instance_n sometime_o in_o oppose_v the_o counsel_n of_o wicked_a man_n and_o take_v they_o in_o their_o own_o craft_n and_o so_o he_o do_v pharaoh_n that_o what_o wicked_a man_n design_v for_o the_o ruin_n of_o his_o people_n he_o can_v turn_v it_o to_o their_o advantage_n nazianzen_n say_v that_o the_o masterpiece_n of_o god_n wisdom_n be_v to_o make_v enemy_n do_v his_o own_o work_n last_o it_o make_v appear_v the_o greatness_n of_o his_o power_n the_o greatness_n of_o his_o power_n appear_v in_o work_v without_o mean_n or_o contrary_a to_o mean_n it_o be_v to_o make_v a_o thing_n of_o nothing_o when_o god_n create_v the_o world_n yet_o there_o seem_v to_o be_v great_a power_n in_o turn_v evil_a to_o good_a than_o in_o make_v the_o world_n because_o here_o be_v nothing_o to_o contribute_v but_o all_o as_o may_v be_v to_o oppose_v it_o it_o be_v the_o almighty_a power_n of_o god_n that_o bring_v light_a out_o of_o darkness_n and_o evil_a out_o of_o good_a and_o the_o great_a good_a out_o of_o the_o great_a evil_n the_o second_o general_a head_n be_v to_o show_v the_o good_a that_o god_n work_v in_o the_o world_n by_o wicked_a men._n i_o beseech_v you_o to_o mind_v these_o thing_n 1._o god_n make_v use_v of_o wicked_a man_n sometime_o as_o the_o instrument_n of_o his_o vengeance_n to_o punish_v other_o wicked_a man_n thus_o many_o time_n he_o use_v evil_a angel_n but_o especial_o evil_a man_n to_o destroy_v his_o enemy_n one_o wicked_a man_n to_o execute_v his_o justice_n upon_o another_o so_o he_o do_v when_o he_o raise_v up_o great_a prince_n to_o be_v instrument_n of_o his_o vengeance_n and_o plague_n upon_o a_o wicked_a nation_n thus_o god_n raise_v up_o nabuchadnezzar_n to_o punish_v israel_n when_o they_o have_v sin_v but_o he_o dream_v nothing_o at_o all_o of_o serve_v god_n end_n but_o only_o his_o own_o ambition_n but_o yet_o he_o be_v god_n instrument_n many_o time_n we_o be_v ready_a to_o quarrel_v at_o god_n providence_n when_o we_o see_v wicked_a prince_n conquer_v and_o destroy_v and_o invade_v when_o they_o have_v no_o just_a right_n but_o we_o consider_v not_o they_o be_v act_v by_o a_o high_a hand_n sometime_o god_n do_v it_o by_o private_a man_n sometime_o he_o raise_v up_o one_o oppressor_n to_o punish_v another_o oppressor_n sometime_o he_o raise_v up_o rebellious_a child_n to_o punish_v parent_n who_o have_v be_v disobedient_a when_o they_o be_v child_n sometime_o he_o punish_v some_o person_n with_o treachery_n and_o unfaithfulness_n which_o have_v be_v former_o treacherous_a and_o unfaithful_a themselves_o 2._o god_n make_v use_v of_o the_o sin_n of_o wicked_a man_n to_o chastise_v and_o punish_v his_o own_o people_n when_o they_o have_v offend_v and_o sin_v against_o he_o god_n make_v the_o sin_n of_o wicked_a man_n as_o rod_n to_o chastise_v they_o and_o bring_v they_o back_o from_o their_o wander_n i_o will_v give_v you_o one_o or_o two_o famous_a instance_n of_o this_o isa_n 10.5_o o_o assyrian_n the_o rod_n of_o my_o anger_n the_o staff_n in_o their_o hand_n be_v my_o indignation_n see_v the_o 6_o &_o 7_o to_o the_o 12._o ver_fw-la god_n tell_v we_o he_o have_v a_o work_n to_o do_v by_o the_o king_n of_o assyria_n namely_o to_o punish_v a_o hypocritical_a nation_n but_o his_o design_n be_v only_o to_o kill_v and_o destroy_v another_o instance_n you_o have_v 2_o sam._n 12.11_o and_o so_o on_o you_o know_v david_n have_v sin_v a_o great_a sin_n a_o indelible_a sin_n that_o god_n always_o remember_v though_o upon_o david_n repentance_n god_n pardon_v he_o yet_o he_o tell_v he_o he_o will_v raise_v up_o a_o sword_n out_o of_o his_o own_o bowel_n to_o correct_v he_o first_o one_o of_o his_o own_o son_n incestuous_o ravish_v his_o own_o sister_n than_o absalon_n murder_n his_o brother_n than_o god_n raise_v up_o this_o son_n to_o be_v a_o scourge_n to_o he_o by_o lie_v with_o his_o wife_n and_o concubine_n and_o after_o by_o raise_v up_o a_o long_a rebellion_n against_o he_o and_o how_o many_o sin_n be_v commit_v in_o these_o matter_n and_o yet_o all_o this_o god_n make_v use_n of_o for_o chastise_v of_o david_n and_o bring_v he_o to_o repentance_n i_o will_v give_v you_o a_o familiar_a instance_n to_o illustrate_v this_o to_o you_o from_o a_o leach_n draw_v of_o blood_n the_o physician_n apply_v they_o they_o draw_v blood_n to_o satisfy_v their_o natural_a
inclination_n but_o the_o physician_n use_v they_o to_o draw_v away_o ill_a humour_n so_o wicked_a man_n afflict_v god_n people_n from_o the_o hatred_n they_o bear_v they_o but_o god_n design_n it_o to_o correct_v and_o humble_v they_o for_o sin_n and_o so_o to_o bring_v they_o to_o repentance_n 3._o god_n make_v use_v of_o the_o sin_n of_o wicked_a man_n for_o the_o trial_n of_o the_o grace_n of_o his_o own_o child_n and_o this_o be_v another_o admirable_a end_n to_o use_v the_o sin_n of_o wicked_a man_n to_o make_v good_a man_n so_o much_o the_o better_o this_o evident_o appear_v in_o the_o famous_a story_n of_o job_n the_o devil_n mere_o out_o of_o malice_n tempt_v he_o to_o curse_v god_n but_o god_n make_v use_v of_o it_o to_o increase_v job_n grace_n i_o will_v instance_n in_o two_o point_n more_o 1._o when_o god_n suffer_v false_a prophet_n seducer_n and_o heretic_n to_o go_v about_o to_o undermine_v the_o true_a religion_n in_o a_o nation_n this_o be_v a_o very_a sad_a 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forswear_v themselves_o with_o a_o mental_a reservation_n till_o the_o case_n be_v make_v out_o as_o clear_a as_o the_o sun_n again_o they_o aver_v that_o at_o their_o execution_n they_o may_v deny_v their_o crime_n too_o because_o when_o they_o have_v confess_v to_o a_o priest_n and_o receive_v absolution_n they_o be_v in_o a_o state_n of_o salvation_n and_o absolve_v from_o their_o sin_n therefore_o fix_v this_o in_o your_o heart_n that_o for_o the_o great_a good_a in_o the_o world_n it_o be_v not_o lawful_a to_o commit_v the_o least_o sin_n sect_n v._o my_o three_o inference_n be_v this_o if_o all_o the_o sin_n of_o man_n be_v order_v and_o govern_v by_o god_n the_o only_a true_a way_n to_o secure_v ourselves_o from_o hurt_n by_o wicked_a man_n be_v to_o make_v our_o peace_n with_o god_n it_o follow_v most_o direct_o true_a for_o if_o all_o the_o sin_n of_o wicked_a man_n be_v order_v limit_v and_o overrule_v by_o god_n the_o most_o secure_a method_n in_o all_o trouble_n be_v to_o 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prophet_n tell_v they_o god_n have_v send_v the_o assyrian_a to_o punish_v they_o they_o deny_v it_o and_o say_v it_o be_v not_o the_o lord_n beloved_n we_o be_v loath_a in_o any_o affliction_n we_o suffer_v to_o acknowledge_v god_n hand_n in_o it_o and_o the_o reason_n be_v because_o it_o will_v be_v a_o secret_a acknowledgement_n of_o our_o own_o gild_n thus_o if_o there_o happen_v to_o be_v a_o defeat_n in_o war_n we_o reckon_v it_o come_v only_o by_o negligence_n or_o cowardice_n or_o if_o a_o fire_n happen_v we_o say_v this_o be_v the_o malice_n of_o man_n but_o we_o never_o look_v up_o to_o god_n in_o all_o this_o this_o be_v the_o great_a cause_n of_o impenitence_n for_o how_o can_v we_o repent_v of_o our_o sin_n if_o we_o believe_v we_o be_v only_o injure_v by_o man_n and_o not_o punish_v by_o god_n we_o ought_v to_o believe_v there_o be_v no_o evil_a in_o a_o city_n but_o what_o the_o lord_n have_v do_v all_o evil_n that_o come_v either_o immediate_o from_o god_n hand_n or_o 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