Children are often the sluces of sorrow Dinah was ravish't Gen. 34. â— Simeon and Levi make their Father Jacob to stink among the Inhabitants of the Land Gen. 34. 30. Reuben lay with his Father's Concubine Gen. 35. 22. Joseph is hated of his brethren and pack't away into Egypt to the grief of the old man who taking it for a concession that Joseph was dead refused to be comforted Gen. 37. 35. 4. Servants prove vile and abominable Good Mephibosheth's servant was a false accuser of his Master and hook't away half of his Lord's Estate 2 Sam. 16. 3 4. with 2 Sam. 19. 24 to 30. 5. Superiors as Parents and Masters with Mistresses are sometimes curst-creatures Jonathan is called by his Father Son of a perverse rebellious woman yea a Javelin is cast at him from the hand of a Father 1 Sam. 20. 30 31. Nabal a Master of servants and a slave to frowardness 1 Sam. 25. 17. Sarai though a good woman yet had a pang of frowardness Gen. 16. 5 6. 4. Choice Friends bring up the rear of sorrows Death cuts the knot of Friendship I am distressed for thee my brother Jonathan said David 2 Sam. 1. 26. If the Worm feed not on them in the grave yet some Ear-wig doth hurt A Whisperer separateth chief friends Prov. 16. 28. yea there is some unmortified lust by reason whereof the friend is metamorphosed into a bloody enemy so Psal 41. 9. Yea mine own familiar friend in whom I trusted which did eat of my bread hath lift up his heel against me Secondly As it concerns to observe when the Creatures become Corrosives so to improve this corroding-Dispensation Let it be a means to eat out the proud-flesh of some sin or other which is the procuring-cause of all The Creatures frown but doth not God frown on some sin in their frowning It would better become persons who cry out of Superiors to consider how the taking cold in the feet is often the cause of disorder in the head The sins of people Wives Children Servants are the cold Vapours which cause a Distemper The head-ake of some above others becomes an heart-ake to and from those below others Eye then sin so as more to be abased for it and creatures less in way of disquiet So doth the Prophet teach Lam. 3. 40. The overtaking of sin with Hue-and-Cry is the best Remedy under such Maladies OBSERVATION XVIII The great God is greatly to be seen in the meanest or least of His Creatures CHAP. I. 1. THE meanest or least of the Creatures set off more the beauty of the Universe A Giant is the more conspicuous when a Dwarf is brought forth on the stage with him Behemoth or the Elephant is said to be the chief of the ways of God Job 40. 19. the vast extensions of the Elephant are the more illustrious when compared with the small dimensions of a Worm or Flye 2. The very smalness or littleness of the Sicut enim artifices illi peritissimi ingeniosissimi habentur qui in arctissimo spatio plurimum artis ostendunt ut qui sub muscae umbra currum equos repraesentavit sic Deus si non tantam in minutis animaleulis potentiam quantam in majoribus ostendir at sapientiae certe majus specimen edidit Cartwright in Prov. p. 1466. Creatures doth set forth the Wisdom of God The curious workmanship about a Watch or some lesser piece of Artifice doth commend the skill of the Artificer Creeping things and Birds flying as well as Beasts and Cattel do bear a part in the Quire to sound forth the praises of their Maker and Preserver Psal 148. 10. with v. 7. 3. The Creatures by reason of their meanness did not hold back the sentence of approbation at their creation or when they were first ushered into the world The History of the Creation comprehends little fishes birds and creeping things God saw what was then created that it was good Gen. 1. 20 21 25. 4. The meanest Creatures have their ordinary use for which they serve They are not dumb Cyphers in the World's Arithmetick The Herb is said to be for the service of man Psal 104. 14. Even Serpents and Vermin are serviceable in attracting to themselves that Venom which otherwise might be of dangerous consequence to man Worms and Flyes are baits for Fishes and food for Birds 5. What is wanting in the meanest of Creatures one way is salved up another There be four things which are but little upon the earth but they are exceeding wise The Ants are a people not strong yet they prepare their meat in the summer the Conies are but feeble folks yet make they their houses in the rocks the Locusts have no king yet go they forth all of them by bands the Spider taketh hold with her hands and is in the kings palaces Prov. 30. 24 c. 6. There is a display of the glorious Attributes of God in and about the meanest of Creatures and that in a more than ordinary way as He is pleased to make use of them We may behold as in a glass 1. The Goodness or Mercy of God 2. Wisdom 3. Power 4. Justice or Severity 1. The Goodness or Mercy of God is seen as when he useth them for the help of man The Ravens in a time of famine bring Elijah bread and flesh 1 Kings 17. 6. The stories are known how Moulin at the time of the Parisian-Massacre was cherished for a fortnight by a Hen which came constantly and laid her Eggs there where he lay hid And at Cales how an English-man who crept into an hole under a pair of Stairs was there preserved by means of a Spider which had woven its Web over the hole and so the Soldiers slighted the search there There are other stories which I have mâ—t withall as that of Aristomenes who being thrown into a ditch for dead with others found out his way for egress by means of a Fox which came thither and pointed a passage The Lord Mountjoy coming from Ireland had likely perisht with his company in the ship had not Providence befriended them to a wonder and that by means of certain Sea-birds The story thus Fynes Morryson Itinerary Part 2. p. 296. The sky being overcast with a thick fog and we bearing all sails we fell suddenly upon the Skirvies an hideous great black Rock where after so many dangers escaped in the Warrs it pleased God miraculously to deliver us from becast away as it were in the very Haven for certain Birds called Gulls seeing our ship ready to rush upon them and their desart-habitation with full sails rose crying and fluttering round about us whereat the Governour of the Pinace being amazed looked out and beholding that terrible spectacle cried to the Steer-man Aloof for life which fearful voice might have daunted him as it did most in the ship but he stoutly did his work answering Helm a board which done the ship by force of the stern and
into Egypt Gen. 37. 2. and he was thirty years old when he stood before Pharaoh King of Egypt Gen. 41 16. and he tells his brethren after they find him Lord-Treasurer in Egypt how that two years hath the Famine been in the land Gen. 45. 6. yea moreover Joseph's going down into Egypt laid foundation for the Israelites going up out of Egypt to Canaan according to the prophecy Gen. 15. 13 14. Thirdly The latitude or extent of a foundation for future matters is next to be spoken unto and may be considered two ways 1. In respect of Things 2. In respect more immediately of Persons 1. In respect of things and so there is a large harvest of Temporals and Spirituals from seed before sown Not to be large here seeing Instances which may serve have been mentioned materially and may easily here formally be insisted on Thus Joseph is the man sent before when the Lord called for a Famine upon the Land and brake the whole staff of bread as is said Psal 105. 16 17. Wise-men from the East bring gifts Gold Frankincense and Myrrhe Mat. 2. 11. This their Present is of great use for the Egypt-Journey at hand for Joseph and Mary being low in the world are now the better provided-for in a strange Countrey The Eye of Providence fore-sees future Exigencies and the Hand of Providence is sometimes before-hand by way of provision for the children of Providence Other things might here be instanced in as in Marriage Health Liberty but I pass to things of spiritual concernment and so to avoid repetition of what elsewhere is here reducible I shall only touch on two things 1. Conversion to the Faith 2. Confirmation in the Faith There are passages of Providence which pave a way to each God in his Providence raiseth up Instruments whom he sends and blesseth in their Ministry so that faith comes by hearing as the Apostle doth declare Rom. 10. 15 17. Words spoken at one time lay a foundation for confirmation at another So John 2. 22. When therefore he was risen from the dead his disciples remembred that he had said this unto them and they believed the Scripture and the word which Jesus had said 2. In respect of Persons And here we may take a view of the All-wise-founding-Providence as it respects persons Political and Ecclesiastical or Magistrates and Ministers in God's holy Ordinances 1. There are passages which refer to persons under a Political consideration and these may be distinguish't 1. As they respect the advancement promotion exaltation of persons to places of Power and Dignity 2. As they respect the dejection of persons the clipping their Power and Dignity That there are matters which may lay some foundation more or less both as to the one and the other is apparent out of the History to go no further of Paul and David What these matters in particular are is subject-matter for a Treatise of Providence referring to Politicals 2. There are passages of Providence which respect Ecclesiastical persons whom God takes near to himself in his service as was said of the Tribe of Levi Numb 3. 6. These may be distinguish't into such which are 1. More remote 2. More near To instance in the first God's preserving of them in the foregoing part of their life is observable Musculus when a little one had the Plague he dies not God having work for him to do he is plague-proof till the work be done Moses the Lord's Prophet in the Old-Testament Christ in the New are exemplifications of this Neither Pharoah the bloody Wolf nor Herod the old Fox choak these Lambs in their Infancy as hath elsewhere been noted upon another Observation Again there are passages of Providence more near as preparation or fitting for the work and actual calling and disposing them according as God in his Providence seeth best Timothy was nurtured in the knowledg of the Scriptures from a Child 2 Tim 3. 15. To be well verst in the Scriptures is a good preparative for Divinity He is after solemnly set apart for publick work of the Ministry 1 Tim. 4. 14. The Disciples of Christ were Hearers of Him before they were Speakers They had an extraordinary Call as Apostles and this their receiving the Lord's Press-mony had a respect to future Service More might be said here as it refers to Persons Ecclesiastical who as they are Officers in the Church so may they be spoken of in a Treatise of Providence referring to God's Church or People CHAP. II. 1. SEE ground for Saints hopes and Sinners fears There is a Seed-plot both for the Afflictiones Ecclesiae veluti sationes quaedam sunt quae tandem dulcem justitiae gratiae favoris Dei gustum proferunt dum videlicet tyrannos reprimit suos à servitute liberat Moll Quemadmodum semen telluri insinuatum abditum suo tempore prodit terrâ non obtegitur amplius sed revelatur sic sanguis innoxius in terram effusus corpora piorum occisa ac tellure adoperta semen sunt tempore Domini visitationis ad judicium condemnationem impiorum proditura Musculus ad locum Isai one and the other They that sow in tears shall reap in joy He that goeth forth and weepeth bearing precious seed shall doubtless come again with rejoycing bringing his sheaves with him Psal 126. 5 6. Even as I saith Eliphaz the Temanite have seen They that plow iniquity and sow wickedness reap the same by the blast of God they perish and by the breath of his nostrils are they consumed Job 4. 8 9. The Prophet Isaiah comprehendeth both Seed-plots Isa 26. 20. 21 21. Come my people enter thou into thy chambers and shut thy doors about thee hide thy self as it were for a little moment till the indignation be over-past for behold the Lord cometh out of his place to punish the inhabitants of the earth for their iniquity the earth also shall discover her blood and shall no more cover her slain 2. Observe Foundation-Dispensations of Providence The way to profit more by after-Dispensations of Providence is to take notice of previous or foregoing ones The reading of the Preface to the Book will conduce to the better understanding of the Book One skilful in Architecture will the better judg of the Superstruction by taking a view how the Foundation of the House is laid We too often pass by the work of God as a heap of rubbish at a distance little considering what the Lord is doing till afterward we find an House built there where nothing but an heap of earth lay It 's our wisdom then to observe the display of God's Attributes in bringing water from this and that Spring-head by many windings over many Hills and through divers Vales and that to refresh some and drown others see Psal 46. 4. with Isa 8. 7. OBSERVATION XXXII PROVIDENCE singly considered with respect to Matters is an hard Chapter to be understood but conjunctively is a good Commentary or a
ground At first when the Christian's Sun did not shine so clear he discerned grosser evils but now he comes to behold more inward and spiritual evils 2. By exercising them with variety of conditions These Soldiers know what it is to be in garison and what it is to be in the field They have had both calms and storms on the Sea of this World Witnesses hereof are Abraham Jacob Moses David Job Paul with others These had their divers temptations or trials as is said James 1. 2. 3. By quickning them to the use of means in order to progress As new born babes desire ye the sincere milk of the word that ye may grow thereby said Peter 1 Pet. 2 2. The Spouse seeketh him whom her soul loveth Cant. 3. 1 2. And for her spiritual laziness and drowsiness Christ had withdrawn himself and then she is the more secretly stirred up to seek after him Cant. 3 5 6 7 8. Pertinent to this is that of Jude's direction for progress But ye beloved building up your selves in your most holy faith praying in the Holy Ghost keep your selves in the love of God looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life Jude v. 20 21. Seventhly There are the sallies of Providence in regard of Temptations which befall persons There are certain buffeting seasons when Satan is let loose and that not without a wise and righteous hand of God Thus in David's numbring the people 2 Sam. 24. 1. with 1 Chron. 21. 1. It is said Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the Devil Mat. 4. 1. And as there is a buffeting-season so there is a relieving sally of Providence more than ordinary when the temptation is so The Lord said unto Simon Simon behold Satan hath desired to have you that he may sift you as wheat but I have prayed for thee that thy faith fail not Luke 22. 31 32. Though Peter fell and that foully yet as he fell by his rising too high in his own confidence v. 33. so he rises from his falling v. 62. and by his falling for he becomes a more humble Christian afterwards Joh. 21. 15 16 17. To this instance of Peter add that of Paul 2 Cor. 12. 7 8 9. Eighthly There are the sallies of Providence in regard of Calamities These are not the birth of Heathenish Fortune or Chance See now saith God that I even I am be and there is no God with me I kill and I make alive I wound and I heal neither is there any that can deliver out of my hand Deut. 31. 39. The black Horse and the red Horse and the pale Horse Rev. 6. were if I may so phrase it sadled in the Stable of Providence ere Providence rid circuit in way of Judgment on them Divine Providence may be stiled the Master of these Horses for upon the opening of the seals away gallop these Horses that is wrathful Dispensations to take place in the World according to the Contents of the sealed Book there Ninthly There are the sallies of Providence in regard of external Mercies of which persons are in an eminent way made the subjects of There is a plain stamp on this Coin the image or superscription of Providence is very legible Abimilech and Pichol the chief Captain of his Army come to Isaac and said We saw certainly that the Lord is with thee c. Gen. 26. 28 29. It is said of David He went on and grew great and the Lord God of Hosts was with him Hiram King of Tyrus sends messengers to him yea he perceived that the Lord had established him King over Israel and that he had exalted his Kingdom for his people Israel's sake 2 Sam. 5. 10 11 12. When the Lord turned again the captivity of Zion we were like them that dream then was our mouth filled with laughter and our tongue with singing then said they among the heathen The Lord hath done great things for them Psal 126. 1 2. Tenthly There are the sallies of Providence in regard of Habitation Now the Lord had said unto Abraham Get thee out of thy country and from thy kindred and from thy father's house unto a land that I will shew thee Gen. 12. 1. Jacob hath a call to leave Laban to be gone from him whose countenance was not toward him as before Gen. 31. 2 3. Moses must no longer keep the Flock of his Father Jethro he must look after another Flock the Lord's people Exod. 3. 10. Then spake Elisha to the woman whose son he had restored to life saying Arise and go thou and thy houshold and sojourn wheresoever thou canst sojourn for the Lord hath called for a famine and it shall also come upon the land seven years 2 King 8. 1. The Angel of the Lord apppeareth to Joseph in a dream saying Arise and take the young child and his mother and flee into Egypt and he thou there until I bring thee word for Herod will seek the young child to destroy him Mat. 2. 13. Thus there is a display of Providence in the change of Habitation and they who change their places according as there is a warrant or rational ground so to do have experience that though they change their places yet not their God Jacob though he left his Father's Family yet met with his Father's God elsewhere Gen. 28. 16. Eleventhly There are the sallies of Providence in regard of Journeys This is of some kin to the former and yet a difference there is The Bee goes abroad yet keeps to the old Hive Some are not so coop'd up at their accusiomed homes but there are occasions and rational inducements to be abroad Now Providence is on its journey whilst they are on theirs A wonderful Providence there was in the journey of Jacob's sons into Egypt Gen. 42. 1 2. â—hey go down into Egypt for Corn and so the Sheaf-dream is fulfilled and they are there threshed from their chaff v. 9 and 21. Joseph by a good Providence is found by a man when behold he was wandring in the field Gen. 37. 15 16 17. Moses in his journey to Egypt meets with a startling Providence Exod. 4. 24. Elisha in his journey at Shunem meets with courteous entertainment 2 Kings 4. 8 9 10. Ezra's journey of Prayer proves a journey of Providence Ezra 8. 21 23. It is said of Christ he must go thorow Samaria John 4. 4. As there might be reason for his going thorow Samaria in regard of the scituation of Samaria that being the way to the place intended so there might be another reason namely his will for the conversion of the woman there together with her neighbours v. 39. Thus from these and the like Scriptures it may be evidenced how there is much of Providence in journeys and that both as to Temporals and Spirituals Afflictions and Mercies It 's wisdom to take God along with one in journeys on earth and to mind the great journey
make men dig their graves with their own nails It had been better for Achitophel he had never given that politiâ—k direction to Absolom to go in unto his fathers Concubines this fact of Absolom might strengthen the hands of them with Absolom as is said 2 Sam. 16. 21. but the counsel of Achitophel in this fact was as hath been before intimated gunpowder to blow up Achitophel when he was sensible what was like to be the issue of all 2 Sam. 17. 23. 4. Learn to mind the ultimate declared End God's Glory Do all saith the Apostle to God's glory 1 Cor. 10. 31. To seek God's glory in God's way is for men to consult their own honour As men in minding their corrupt Ends bring about the End of Providence so in serious eying the Lord's glory men are no losers Them that honour me saith God I will honour and they that despise me shall be leightly esteemed 1 Sam. 2. 30. But seek ye first the kingdom of God and his righteousness and all these things shall be added unto you Mat. 6. 33. Men will have Gold or Golds-worth if God be their Gold and not their Gold their God OBSERVATION XXVIII Hastes and Delays about matters are the two great Hinges on which do move the considerable issues of PROVIDENCE CHAP. I. VVHAT a Portal or Introduction both to the House of Feasting and to the House of Mourning Hastes are doth appear if an eye be cast on Exemplifications following In the first place then Success preservation deliverance from dangers the participation of positive good are brought on the wings of Haste or a quick dispatch about matters Abraham is quick in the pursuit after the four Kings who carried Lot away captive and so rescueth the Lamb from the paw of the Lions Gen. 14. 14 15 16. Alexander the Great flies like Lightning against the Persian and prevails So Dan. 8. 5. it is said That the He-Goat touch'd not the ground And in ver 6. he ran unto him i. e. to the Persian-Ram in the fury of his power History makes mention of Alexander's Hâ—c igitur de Scriptionis parte significatur summa celeritas quemadmodâ—m legimus apud Curtium de Alexandro Magno Eum roganti cuidam quomodo res tantastam brevi tempore perfecisset respondiâ—…e his verbis 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Arrianâ—s refert Parmenioâ—eâ— cum proelium esset ineundum ad Granicum flumen suasisse rationibus allatis Alexandro ut illud deferret ad posterum diem sed Alexandrum non obsecutum Parmenioni mox Granicum transivisse faeliciter conflixisse Polanus Com. in Dan. c. 8. Celerity as the in-let of his Conquests Jehu his Haste was a key to open the Royal Palace-door for himself to get in and so to throw out the Family of Ahab 2 Kings 9. 13 15 20. The men of Jabesh-Gilead are holpen by Saul's coming speedily for their help 1 Sam. 11. 6 7 c. Abigal hastens to David cools his passion and so preserveth her own coal from being quench't in Israel 1 Sam. 25. 18. The chief Captain immediately took Soldiers and ran down unto the people who were about to kill Paul and so delivers him Acts 21. 32. 2. On the other hand Hastes do sometimes Homines nimio festinandi studio saepe aberrant serò iter propositum perficiunt Docet haec sententia cavendam esse temeritatem praecipitantiam cui juvenes maxime sunt obnoxiâ— cogitent igitur nihil sine consilio ac temere esse suscipiendum Lavat throw open the door to the House of Sorrows and Destruction He that hasteth with his feet sinneth saith the Wise-man Prov. 19. 3. An hair-brain Abimelech hath his skull broken to pieces Judg. 9. 52 53. The wanton rash young man goeth after the fair-tongu'd Whore straightway or suddenly as an ox to the slaughter Prov. 7. 22. Josiah made more haste than good speed in his going forth against Necho King of Egypt 2 Chron. 20. 21 22 23 24. Jonah rashly flies to Tarshish and so the Whale's belly is his house of mourning In the next place Delays are of consequence and that as three ways considered 1. As ushering in Evils 2. As preventive of Evils 3. As bringing in some positive Good 1. Delays are doors or in-lets to Evil Joab cautions David against a Delay Now therefore arise go forth and speak comfortably unto thy servants for I swear by the Lord If thou go not forth there will not tarry with thee one this night and that will be worse unto thee than all the evil that befel thee from thy youth until now 2 Sam 19. 7. The Delay of the Levite is the occasion of his being be-nighted and so he stops at Gibeah where what followed is recorded That long chain of Evils of burning lusts cutting up the Concubine in pieces the deaths of many thousands in the Warr hath a Delay for the first link thereof Judg. 19. 8. We find in History how the Emperor Mauricius delaying to execute the Traytor Phocas by reason of the Festival-season of the Nativity of Christ Phocas escapes in that interval of time becomes the bloody Murderer of Mauricius and so usurps the Royal Throne Lot's sons-in-law are warned to get them gone out of Sodom they who were so cold in heeding Lot's admonition perish in the hot flames of Sodom yea it is said of Lot While he lingred the men laid hold upon his hand and upon the hand of his wife and upon the hand of his two daughters the Lord being merciful unto him and they brought him forth and set him without the City Gen. 19. 16. 2. Delays are sometimes preventive of Evil. Joseph is cast into the pit the brethren sate down to eat and to drink the Ismaelites draw nigh to them and so the Lamb is not butchered he is sold being reserved for a rich Leese in the Land of Egypt Gen. 37. 23 24 25 26. Delay prevents a murderous act of a wrathful King and saves the life of a Prophet 2 Kings 6. 32. 3. Delays are Hand-maids to some positive Good A Good becomes a double Good by a sanctified Delay of Providence The Butler delays to remember Joseph Gen. 40. 23. he remembers him then when a distress at Court might render Joseph the more welcome thither Gen. 41. 9 c. David makes haste to the Throne by Delays for sanctified steps were good steps to the Throne In great Atchievements sober Delays strike a great stroak David is not to bestir himself in falling on the Philistins till he hear the sound of going in the tops of the Mulberry-trees He in fetching a compass behind them takes the straightest course for the Philistins falling before him 2 Sam. 5. 23 24 25. Fabius the Romanae Reipub. plus profuit Fabii cunctatio quam Miâ—…ii praeceps temeritas plus consilio ingenio quam robore effâ—citur Curandum autem est ne nimia cunctatione rerum gerendarum occasiones perdamus Lavat Delayer became victorious
fancy Gen. 37. 11. 2. The not heeding of Providence in its Proemial displays or presages may in some cases prove to be of dangerous consequence John the Baptist was the Elias to come he was the fore-runner of the Messiah for so said he Luke chap. 1. v. 17. He shall go before him in the spirit and power of Elias The Jews did not heed the Providence of God in the Baptist Mat. 17. 12. But I say unto you that Elias is come already and they knew him not but have done unto him whatsoever they listed Likewise shall also the Son of Man suffer of them Thus the King's Harbinger being not regarded no wonder if the King himself be not welcom'd He came unto his own and his own received him not John 1. 11. OBSERVATION XXXI Past and present Passages of Providence lay foundation more or less for future matters or What falls out after is the result or issue of Providence before as effecting or righteously permitting CHAP. I. THIS Observation being akin to the former the less may be said yet if the more be said each of these like two Glasses may reflect on each other and things reflected in them will the better be taken cognizance of Before we considered Providence rather as an eye looking forward here we may look on it as an hand throwing up the earth and laying in stones for superstruction-work to go on There are three Generals to be spoken to here 1. The various Mode or Manner how past or present passages of Providence lay a foundation 2. The interval of time between the Foundation and after-Superstruction 3. The Latitude or Extent of this with respect to Matters First To begin then with the first and so past and present things in order to what follows may be considered 1. According to their intrinsecal and proper nature their usual manner of working qualification for what is the ordinary result as Providence is conversant about them Thus it is said that the heaven was black with clouds and wind and there was a great rain 1 King 18. 44. And so Eccles 7. 7. Surely oppression maketh a wise man mad and a gift destroyeth the heart that is impatiency and vexation of mind as one saith Cartwright in locum is a kind of madness which oppression with its force and nature bringeth unless a man well principled with piety flie unto God for shelter and refuge and after the like sort bribery blinds the eyes of a wise man Again things may be considered according to a supernatural causality attending them in regard of their issues and here the said things may be considered as over-ruled by Providence three ways 1. As indifferent in their own nature for the production of this or that effect The Ax cuts the wood and cuts a man's leg the same Ax which fells the tree down for fewel or some other use kills a man at another time as Deut. 19. 5. 2. As having some tendency inclination or propensity for this or that effect but not proportionable in it self considered for the product thereof Gideon's Three hundred men rout a vast Army and so lay a foundation for their Countrey 's quier and respit from the Midianitish fury Judg. 7. 3. As averse and contrariant in all likelihood to what follows Thus Joseph's brethren rid their Father's house of Joseph which act of theirs by an over-ruling Providence contributes for the preservation of the Family afterwards as is asserted by Joseph Gen. 45. 9 10 11. There is another consideration of things past and present in order to futurity and that is 1. By way of natural causality as things according to their very natures physically considered work thus as for fire to burn the houses of Ziglag being applied to them 1 Sam. 30. 3. 2. By way of moral causality or order which the Lord hath set Thus the Corinthiant did prophane the Lord's Supper and this lays a moral foundation for a future House of Correction to be erected amongst them For this cause faith the Apostle many are weak and sickly among you and many sleep 1 Cor. 11. 30. On the other hand when the Temple work was minded by them in the Prophet Haggai's time the laying of the foundation of the Temple was through grace the laying of a foundation of future Mercies as is plainly declared in Hag. 2. 18 19. 3. By way both of natural and moral causality Both these streams meet in one channel sometimes The drunkard and the glutton shall come to poverty and drowsiness shall clothe a man with rags Prov. 23. 21. These sins have not only a moral provocation in them by reason whereof God doth righteously punish the sinners but likewise according to a natural tendency are an in-let to poverty Drunkenness as one saith turns man his family yea his house too out at the Wicket Some sins are costly and are Moths to men's Estates Men do not only fight against God with their Mercies but also against their own Estates Peace and Comfort They take the link-stock fire the Cannons and have no ground to quarrel with Providence if the Chain-shot or Wedg heated red-hot in the fire of their lusts light on their own houses to the burning of them And thus for the first general propounded Secondly The interval or space of time betwixt Causes Effects and Consequents comes next to be insisted on And here as there is a Winter-grain and Spring-seed as Oats Barley which are earthed after the former so some things come to pass after which were founded in their Causes before There is a Treasure-house of Providence Mercies and Judgments are laid up in this Treasure-house The opening of this Treasure-house belongs to God He times the opening of it 1. Sometimes there is but a little distance between the issues of Matters and their Causes The House is soon up and covered whether it be an House of Feasting or Mourning A word and good word there is for Jehosaphat with the people when they are fasting and praying upon the account of that great Multitude which came against them 2 Chron. 20. 17. To morrow go out against them for the Lord will be with you Elijah sends word to Ahab after a long drought saying Prepare thy Chariot and get thee down that the rain stop thee not and it came to pass that in the mean while that the heaven was black with clouds c. 1 King 18. 44 45. Boast not thy self of to morrow thou knowest not what a day may bring forth Prov. 27. 1. 2. Otherwhile the distance is wider Causes and Effects do not shake hands by and by Joseph's brethren made a Rod for their backs which hung up by the wall of Providence for some years ere they were lash't by in it Egypt and Joseph's being sent into Egypt had a reference to the future good of his Father's Family The Tree was transplanted long before Jacob with his sons eat of the fruit thereof for Joseph was seventeen years when sold