the sonnes of men we haue learned that by comparing spirituall things with spirituall things by meanes thereof we may duely and clearely begin to perceiue and vnderstand the truth and certaintie of Gods word and how that heauen and earth shall sooner passe away then one tittle of Gods word shall fayle so that we may be able to say being holpen by the aforesaid obseruation That this was done in England this in France this in Germany this in our Countrie in our towne in our village in our house according to that which the Lord witnesseth in this or that place of his Booke that it should fall out so and in such manner although in mens opinions it was otherwise expected to be done Now further that wee may bring these things the better about and thereby to reape that profit and fruit which we desire to doe by these thinges that are done and happen here in this world we must specially adde these two thinges thereunto First and before all that we accustome our selues in all things that happen to fall out and come to our knowledge to note the finger of our God to be therein and withall hold this for certaine and most true that as in all things that we see and behold men to doe not the body of man worketh onely but the soule especially which we see not so that likewise the Lord our God which gouerneth all things by his mightie Word hath his finger secretly in all things that are done much more then Ioab had his hand in the businesse of the woman of Tekoa 2 Sam. 14. though in an holy manner and that altogether incomprehensible whereby he alwayes worketh well and produceth much good euen by meanes of the wickedst instruments in the world by vngodly Assur that is the rod of his anger and by the Deuill himselfe whom hee vseth often times to plague his people by Esa 10. 5. 6. and 1 Chron. 22. 20. So that we must endeuour to bring our selues to see the working of Gods finger to be alwayes in euery thing that is done in the world and to thinke and perswade our selues that it is the Lord our God that hath done this thus and in this manner either by furthering or by hindring the same in this or that manner and causing or suffering it to fall out the one way or the other And accordingly whatsoeuer hapneth to crosse the proceedings of Gods children learne alwayes to say vnto our soules behold this our God hath done or permitted to be done This the vngodly vse not to doe they doe not once marke the finger of God in any thing that hapneth vnto the Children of men but their manner is to ascribe it to the lowest and nearest causes and to depend wholy thereupon looking no higher nor further then the gates of the Towne wherein they dwell vnlesse it be a thing that is vnaccustomed and such as doth not vsually fall out and then it may be they will suppose that it proceedeth from God as the sorcerers of Egypt marked the finger of God to be in the lice that Moses brought vpon the Egyptians because they could conceiue no naturall cause whereby it might be effected Exod. 8. 17. 18. 19. but such as are godly and know Gods word note the finger of God in all things as that which is most necessary to bee considered they thereby may obserue the workes of God to fall out according to his word and may draw and reape conuenient fruits from the same Secondly that we accustome our selues when any thing worth the noting falleth out in the course of our liues that is against our selues or others whether they bee particular persons or whole Nations to quicken our witts thereby and to stirre vp our memories to call to mind and remember whether there be no one place of Scripture that witnesseth something touching the same whereby it is foretold or whereunto it may be likened as for example we see a man run vp and downe about his worldly affayres vpon the Sabboth day and when he hath done we see all that he did was in vaine heare should we remember what is sayd vnto vs Exod. 16. 27. to wit And it came to passe that there went some of the people on the Sabboth day which was the rest of the Lord for to gather Manna and they found none This was the practise of Christs Disciples and God gaue them vnderstanding thereby see Ioh. 2. 16. 17. 22. and Ioh. 11. 16. Now to finde conuenient places of Scripture touching these thinges that may bee compared with that that hapneth in the world wee must in that that is done diligently consider what the speciall causes were why those things fell out and came so to passe as they did as namely why such and such things hapned so well or so ill and wherein they finde themselues to haue a part in the gracious promises of the Lord and the Lord hath promised such good to come to them as they then finde or wherein they feele and know themselues culpable of the threatnings of God whereby things haue so happened vnto them as they haue fallen out And if we can finde no certaine speciall cause thereof but the contrary rather then we must as in Iobs case ascribe the event to the mighty power of God and accordingly behaue our selues therein CHAP. XIX Of the seuerall fruites that spring from the searching into and finding out of Gods truth and certaintie declared vnto vs in his word and in his workes THe fourth and the last of the foure necessary points required hereunto that by the workes of God done among the sonnes of men we may be enduced to lay more hold vpon the feare of God and godlinesse is that wee diligently note and consider the seuerall fruites that are hereby reaped and which by finding out Gods truth and the certaintie thereof are declared vnto vs in his Word which must be earnestly and well considered of because this is the ende scope and speciall marke whereunto all tendeth that hath formerly beene deliuered Now the fruites that spring from the aforesaid considerations are notable both many and great whereof some that we may orderly place them in certaine ranckes concerne the holy Scriptures themselues by the light whereof wee may bee able to proue and to iustifie all the aforesayd arguments and declarations other some concerne Gods workes and a third sort our obedience which wee are to yeelde and shew vnto the word of God and the holy Scriptures Touching the first sort of fruites concerning the holy Scriptures they are three For in the first place wee learne out of the aforesayde considerations the truth of the holy Scriptures that the same is most certaine and immutable and that it shall neuer faile in any one tittle thereof therein contained And heereby are wee confirmed and assured in our consciences as by experience we find that what soeuer the Lord hath spoken by his owne mouth in his worde that with
Psalmist witnesseth that God preserueth both man and beast Psal 36. 6. And Iesus Christ himselfe sayth that God maketh his Sunne to rise on the euill and on the good and sendeth rayne on the iust and on the vniust Math. 5. 45. When wee see therefore that the wrath of God is reuealed from heauen against all vngodlinesse and vnrighteousnesse of men Rom. 1. 18. we may thereupon certainely conclude That there is something wanting in men and that for many causes man deserueth punishment for sin which God disliketh Rom. 3. 23. and thereby we may further learne that sinne is the mother of all miseries and that there is nothing in the world which we should with more care caution hate shun and abhor then sinne as the onely thing that moueth our Creator to dislike of vs and maketh all vs that are his creatures abhominable in his sight Secondly God in his word sheweth vs that he hath a care of those that feare him and of such as are godly and seeketh to do them good but how any of vs are made godly and righteous all of vs by nature being wicked and lost sheepe Rom. 4. 3. Ephes 2. 5. Is not at this time to be spoken of and on the contrarie that he hateth the vngodly and powreth out his wrath and indignation vpon them The eyes of the Lord are vpon the righteous and his eares are open to their cry The face of the Lord is against them that doe euill to cut off the remembrance of them from the earth Psal 34. 15. 16. which he sayth he will do when he thinketh good when the dayes of visitation and of recompence are come Hos 9. 7. Exod. 32. 34. Then he will wretchedly destroy those wicked men Mat. 21. 41. And on the contrary when the righteous call the Lord heareth and deliuereth them out of all their trouble Psal 18. 27. Thereby vnderstanding that hee deliuereth them by taking them like a wise workeman out of the furnace of aduersitie when they are sufficiently purified and clensed That is in the time of need Heb. 4. 16. From whence it followeth without contradiction in regard that God is so diuersely affected towards the godly and vngodly man that in that respect when he sendeth one and the like prosperitie and aduersitie both on the godly and vngodly hee doth it not for one selfe same intent nor to one end That which God himselfe witnesseth vnto vs on the one side that whatsoeuer tribulation or misery hee sendeth to the godly man it is for his good and great benefit yea euen the crosses themselues are so for God inlighteneth their darkenesse Psalm 18. 28 and so it falleth out That all things worke for the best to them that loue God Rom. 8. 28. So that the troubles of the godly are vnto them as an entrie into life euerlasting an earnest penny and as it were the first fruites of heauenly ioyes Psal 23. 6. As also the crosses of the godly are vnto them as a precious medicine to heale their soules and a true meanes to prepare the way for them to enter into the kingdome of heauen Acts 14. 22. And in this manner all things are a blessing to the godly For godlinesse is profitable vnto all things hauing the promises of this life that now is and of that which is to come 1. Tim. 4. 8. On the other side whatsoeuer the vngodly indure it is altogether a curse vnto them for God carseth their blessings Matt. 2. 2. So that whether it bee prosperitie or aduersitie it happeneth vnto them it falleth out amisse with them for all things are vncleane vnto them because their mindes and consciences are vncleane Tit. 1. 14 Deut. 8. 15. The aduersity then of the vngodly is a feeling of a preparatiue to euerlasting condemnation an earnest penny and the first fruits of the paines of hell Iud. 5. 7. and their prosperitie is like a poysoned drinke vnto them for by their wickednes the more they abuse their prosperitie the more they spoyle their owne soules and so it become a powerfull meanes to carrie them vnto hell and to the kingdome of darkenesse Apcc. 18. 7. This God openeth vnto vs plainly in his word whereby wee may openly learne and vnderstand that the state of the vngodly whether it bee aduersitie or prosperitie is altogether miserable and on the contrarie that the aduersitie or prosperitie of the godly is a happines vnto them For it is most certain that if the vngodly man doth not in time repent and amend his life at the last hee shall bee sure of after condemnation and the godly man of euerlasting ioy and felicitie as wee haue a manifest example thereof in the state of the rich man and of poore Lazarus Luk. 16. 19. And who seeth not that the rich man for all his wealth and worldly prosperitie was an accursed wretch and that poore Lazarus in his greatest miserie was happie and blessed what man is hee that would not rather choose looking into the end of them both to liue in this world in the state of poore Lazarus then in that of the rich glutton So you see that from these different affections of God both vnto the godly and the vngodly which hee hath shewed vnto vs in his word and by their last ends which thereupon ensue the grounds of the hope and comfort that the godly haue and receiue in the midst of their aduersitie and troubles And the grounds of the feares and miseries which the vngodly are like to fall vnto whiles they possesse worldly prosperity and pleasure But hearken yet further what the Lord himselfe saith vnto his seruants and messengers touching them both Say vnto the righteous that it shall bee well with him for they shall eate the fruite of their doings Woe vnto the wicked it shall bee ill with him for the reward of his handes shall be giuen him Esa 3. 10. 11. Now if wee consider this well and take good heed and earnestly marke the end both of the godly and of the vngodly we shall be throughly perswaded from the doubtfull conceite that wee haue in our mindes touching the workes of God done here vpon earth among men when we oftentimes behold and see the vngodly to prosper so much in this world and the godly liue in pouertie and aduersitie which for that it is a matter of great importance in the next Chapter I will more at large open the same vnto you CHAP. VII That there is no cause at all why men should make any doubt or question when they see many vngodly men here prosper in the world and diuers godly men liue in pouertie and aduersitie THere are two special reasons that moue men to become carelesse and licentious here in the world when they see and behold how it fareth both with the godly and vngodly in this world The first is that many times they see that those that feare God are in great miserie and calamitie and the vngodly prosper
Euen then when they ouercome and spoyle the people of God and lead them Captiues away with them as a prey They doe nothing els but in a manner heap vp a great deale of wood stubble and straw with coles of fire vnder them which at the last burnes them all vp For so the Lord himselfe witnesseth saying In that day will I make the wildernesse of Iudah like a harth of fire among the wood and like a torch of fire in a bundle of straw Zach. 12. 6. And againe And in that day will I make Ierusalem a burthensom stone for all people all that burthen themselues with it shall bee cut in peeces though all the people of the earth bee gathered together against it Zach. 12. 3. Hearken what the Lord in this respect againe and againe commaundeth and oftentimes willeth his Prophets to shew to the world Thou Son of man sayth he Prophesie to the mountaines of Israell and say Ye Mountaines of Israell heare the word of the Lord Thus sayth the Lord Because the enemie had sayd against you Aha euen the auncient high places are ours in possession Therefore prophesie and say Thus sayth the Lord God Because they haue made you desolate and swallowed you vp on euery side that you might be a possession vnto the residue of the Heathen and yee are taken vp in the lips of talkers and are an infamie of the people Therefore yee Mountaines of Israell heare the word of the Lord God Thus sayth the Lord God to the mountaines and to the hills to the riuers and to the valleyes to the desolate wasts and to the Citties that are forsaken which are become a prey and derision to the residue of the Heathen that are round about Therefore thus sayth the Lord surely in the zeale of my ielousie I haue spoken against the residue of the heathen and against all Idumea which haue appoynted my Land into their possessions with the ioy of all their heart with dispitefull minds to cast it out for a prey Prophesie therefore concerning the Land of Israell and say vnto the mountaines and to the hils and to the riuers and to the valleyes Thus sayth the Lord God Behold I haue spoken in my ielousie and in my fury because you haue borne the shame of the heathen therefore thus sayth the Lord God I haue lifted vp mine hand surely the heathen that are about you they shall beare their shame But yee O Mountaines of Israell you shall shoot forth your branches and yeeld your fruit to my people of Israell for they are at hand to come Ezech. 36. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. And for that the Lord intendeth to deale in this manner with his owne people and with their enemies when they ouercome and oppresse them he pronounceth a woe vnto Assyria by the Prophet Esay that for this cause because they were to ouer-run and oppresse the people of Israell for a tyme like durt in the streete saying O Assyrians the rod of mine anger and the staffe in their hand is mine indignation I will send him against an hypocriticall Nation and against the people of my wrath where hee vnderstandeth his owne people that because of their sinnes had a long tyme sore offended him I will giue him a charge to take the spoyle and to take the prey and to tread them downe like the mire in the streets Esa 10. 5. 6. To this end also the Lord witnesseth that hee delayed to take reuenge for the bloud of his Children vntill more of them were slaine for his truth sake that at one time he might visite the enemies of his truth in their owne houses make a iust reckoning with them Apo. 6. 9 10. 11. Wherby it is manifestly to be seene That the Lord suffereth the enemies of the truth somtimes to haue the vpper hand because that alreadie by reason of their great sinnes and offences committed against him they haue in such manner offended him that in his wrath he thinketh it fit to slacke the bridle vnto them and to suffer them to proceed from bad actions to worse for their heauier iudgement and condemnation This also must be vnderstood and conceiued in matters of lesse moment wherein the Children of the world without reason and lawfull ground get the vpper hand ouer the Children of God as when they meete together in battaile in the field or in any towne or in prayer or at a marriage or such like and there are slaine murthered or spoyled in all other such like occurrents And thus the Lord findeth occasion both in regard of his owne people and of their enemies now and then to make his people the foote and not the head that he suffreth them to lie vnder feete and the enemies of the truth to tread vpon them which whosoeuer well waigheth and considereth with an vnderstanding heart hee shall soone perceiue see that there is no cause of doubt to be made or scandall to be found in these workes of the Lord. CHAP. IX Further Iustification of the aforesaid Doctrine which the Lord sheweth vs out of his word touching his proceedings with the Children of men against the people of God in our age THat wee may further Iustifie this poynt touching Gods proceeding with his people and their enemies and discusse the difficulties and troubles which in these times are in diuers places brought vpon Gods people by their enemies we must after the like manner with due respect speak generally both of the proceedings of the people of God and of their enemies That the light of the Gospell hath long tyme shone most clearly in this age as those that know any thing as they ought to doe can tell and that the same hath beene sleightly regarded both by friendes and foes all those plainely see it that haue receiued any light at all from the Lord our God Many both great and small both mightie Potentates and meane men long since and oftentimes with all their mights haue strouen against the same and sought vtterly to dam and smother it vp by all the meanes they could esteeming that to be a false light which is only able to lead and guide them to the way of saluation Others that in some sort had a liking thereunto haue made no great account nor estimation thereof but haue suffered it in such sort to shine and so serued their turnes therewith that they were content to liue where it was and sometimes to come where it shoane without making any reckoning to accept or to make profession thereof And amongst those that proceeded so farre that they haue accepted thereof as a rule of their faith and an order of liuing well there are many found that haue no care orderly and as they ought to doe to walke in the light thereof so that on this side also many lamentable offences haue beene ministred and doubts beene raised to cause controuersies and errours This the Lord God the Father of lights hath seene and
of God done among the children of men for the most part are hidden from vs and incomprehensible yet that which our good God hath openly made knowne vnto vs in his word instructeth and inableth vs with speciall profit fruit and comfort to marke and looke into the workes of God It remaineth then that wee set downe and further speake of certaine notable fruits that grow out of that which wee haue before set downe which wee will doe in the Chapter following ⸪ CHAP. X. That without contradiction it appeareth by the aforesaia order of the workes of God done among the children of men that there shall bee an after reckoning made with all the children of men in the world to come SEEING that it is euidently knowne that God the Lord is a righteous Iudge For the workes of man shall bee rendred vnto him and he will cause euery man to finde according to his wayes Iob 34. 11. and that it is alwayes found that the Lord in this world maketh no euen reckoning with the children of men when hee suffereth a godly man all his life time to liue in great trouble and aduersitie and to dye therein and sendeth great riches and ioy to an vngodly man all his life long and they haue no crosses but their strength is firme Psal 17. 14. and Psal 73. 4. And also by experience in the common course of the world it is found that many of the deare children of God are persecuted and euilly dealt withall onely because they take Gods cause in hand are iealous of God honour seeke the spreading abroad of the Gospel and the prosperitie of his people and that it oftentimes fareth so with them that they are oppressed and lose their liues therefore as it happeneth also to many other Martyrs of God and faithfull witnesses of his truth Apoc. 2. 13. wee must of necessitie therefore hence conclude That God for certaine will make an after reckoning in the world to come for it can by no meanes stand with the righteousnesse and goodnesse of our God that hee should indure or suffer his owne children and his faithfull seruants who for the fulfilling of his will did not refuse to yeeld their liues into the enemies handes and to dye and that for his cause were shamefully handled cursed abased and slaine should not be reuenged Luke 18. 7. 8. Apocal. 6. 9. 10. 11. Could a iust and an vpright Prince endure that his trustie seruants and officers should be assayled persecuted and slaine by his subiects because they seeke to mainetaine and vphold his lawfull commandements and to see them executed without taking their causes in hand reuenging their blood and punishing the offendours as they had deserued Much lesse will the Lord suffer the hard dealing with and handling of his children that are slaine and murthered in this world to goe vnreuenged Therefore if there were no other reasons then that onely for which God should make a common reckoning with the children of men at the latter day yet were this cause enough for it So the Apostle setteth downe the necessitie of the last day of iudgement to consist vpon this That the godly are here oftentimes so cruelly oppressed by the vngodly and saith to the Thessalonians that it is a manifest token of the righteous Iudgement of God that yee may be counted worthie of the kingdome of God for which yee also suffer seeing it is a righteous thing with God to recompence tribulation to them that trouble you and to you who are troubled rest with vs when the Lord Iesus shall bee reuealed from heauen with his mightie Angells 2 Thess 1. 5. 6. 7. Then also it shall be made manifest though it bee neuer so much forgotten here in the world and how little regard or knowledg soeuer seemes to be taken of the godly and those that are righteous That God harkened and heard it and a booke of remembrance was layd before him for them that feared the Lord and thought vpon his name and accordingly it shall then also be knowne what difference there is betweene the righteous and the wicked betweene him that serueth the Lord and him that serueth him not Mala. 3. 16. 17. 18. Herewith the godly also must comfort themselues as the Prophet also witnesseth and take heede that they partake not with the vngodly of whom Salomon sayth Because sentence against an euill worke is not executed speedily therefore the heart of the sonnes of men is fully set in them to doe euill Eccl 8. 11. But they must rather seeing God here in this world permitteth things to passe in such manner bee thereby more certainely assured that hereafter there shall come a great day of judgement wherein all things shall be made right and set straight and euery one shall be rewarded according as hee hath done whether it be good or euill Act. 3. 21. and 2 Cor. 5. 10. And accordingly the more crossely and confusedly we see things done and executed here in this world the more must wee learne to make reckoning of the great day of Iudgement make full account thereof and prepare our selues for it holding for certaine as Salomon also in the aforesaid place witnesseth That though a sinner doe euill an hundred tymes and his dayes be prolonged yet surely I know it shall be well not with the vngodly but with them that feare God which feare before him Eccl. 8. 12. This therefore should moue all the godly to long for the last day the comming of the Lord when we shall not onely be reuenged for all their hard speeches which vngodly sinners haue spoken against him Iude 15 And all instruments that are formed against vs shall not prosper Esa 54. 17. But besides that all the partes and pieces of that great worke of the prouidence of God ouer the things of this world that here are so confusedly cast together vpon a heape shall be seene to be laid very orderly by the wise and powerfull hand of our God and from them wee shall see a most notable peece of worke to bee framed and brought forth wherein the vngodly with their wicked workes shall serue as shadowes Eccl 8. 13. to set more beautie and luster vpon the great glory of the Children of God who shall then glister like the Sunne Mat. 13. 34. As also the godly are to expect the same for this cause that howsoeuer they cannot here conceiue why this or that thing comes so to passe yet they may assure themselues when the Lord shall come to Iudgement to make all straight and to bee glorified in his Saints 2 Thess 1. 10. Hee will then bring forth so glorious a peice of worke and shew it vnto vs that wee shall alwayes reioyce therein and prayse and glorifie our God for the same world without end CHAP. XI That not all outward prosperitie is a signe that the Lord loueth that man to whom he sendeth the same SIth by all that which is said before it manifestly appeareth that God
many times sendeth great wealth and prosperitie to the vngodly it is euident and not to be contradicted that not all wealth prosperitie is a signe or token that God fauoureth that man to whom he giueth it for the Lord our wonderfull God giueth in his wrath and anger to some men that which they wish and desire as he gaue Quailes to the Children of Israell at their desire but they dyed while they were eating of them Numb 11. Many a man hath earnestly desired and also obtained that which in the end was his ouerthrow So that it is most certaine that the wealth and prosperitie of the vngodly is nothing else but as it were a pasturing of Beastes for the day of slaughter This God taught Ieremie when touching the prosperitie of the vngodly hee looked into and searched the wayes of God Righteous art thou O Lord when I plead with thee yet let me talke with thee of thy Iudgements Wherefore doth the way of the wicked prosper Wherefore are all they happie that deale very trecherously Thou hast planted them yea they haue taken roote they grow yea they bring forth fruit thou art neere in their mouth and farre from their reines But thou O Lord knowest me thou hast seene me and tryed mine heart towardes thee Put them out like sheepe for the slaughter and prepare them for the day of slaughter Iere. 12. 1. 2. 3. This is the cause why those that prosper in this world reioyce though they are vngodly they glory in themselues because all things goe well with them and are perswaded that it shall alwaies be so with them yea and that God fauoureth and liketh them which notwithstanding is not so The Lord often times in this life giueth great wealth and prosperitie and whatsoeuer they wish or desire vnto those to whom after this life he will giue hell and vtter damnation for their reward Gods wayes in these thinges are not like the wayes of men to those that men hate and cannot abide they wish no good no not so much as may continue the twinckling of an eye But it is not so with our God hee endureth the vessels of wrath with great patience beares long with the vngodly to see if they will once repent and turne from their wicked waies and feare that good God from whom they haue receiued so many good things which if they doe not but â—â—â—ll continue in their wickednes Then vndoubtedly such is the case of the vngodly that the more wealth and prosperitie they haue in this world the more hated and accursed of God they are For this is most certaine that there can come no greater plague in the world then this to the Children of men when doing euill it falleth out well as they imagine with them for thereby they imbolden themselues in their wicked wayes and take such a course that they shun no wickednesse and then that draweth more vnto them which the Psalmist sayth When the wicked spring like the grasse and when all the workers of iniquitie flourish it is that they shall be destroyed for euer Psal 92. 7. Therefore the Prophet cryeth out against the Children of this world in this manner saying O that they were wise that they vnderstood this that they would consider their latter end Deut. 32. 29. Reioyce not then you Children of the world because you flourish and prosper here for behold and see that it standeth thus with you as long as you feare not the Lord for you can finde nothing to make for you out of any place in the word of God but that Gods intent and meaning is to feed you in this fatt pasture for the day of slaughter Ier. 12. 3. And that in this world hee will bring that vpon you which you deserue as it hapned to Absolon Hammon and others This is most certaine you stand vpon slipperie ground and God that iudgeth you is strong and in the twinckling of an eye can throw you downe God I say whom you feare not and therefore is against you comes to Iudgement as a theefe in the night Therefore looke before hand that you stand vpon your gard turne speedily vnto him and repent least with the couetous rich man for a short and transicorie worldly life you bee soone carried away from hence into euerlasting paine and damnation CHAP. XII That all worldly crosses and tribulations are not a shew or signe that God will refuse that man to whom he sendeth them SEeing that by the reasons and proofes aforesaid it is cleare and euident that God also suffereth crosses and tribulations to fall vpon the most godly men that are here in this world it appeareth thereby also without contradiction that all tribulations and troubles are not a crosse of God neither an argument that God will ouerthrow and at once consume vs when he layeth tribulations vpon vs but on the contrary God sometimes suffereth his owne louing and dearest children whom he liketh well and approueth of to fall into great miseries and calamities sometimes So wonderfull is God in his workes to mankind those that he loueth and most certainely determineth to giue vnto them the kingdome of heauen and euerlasting ioy yet them giueth hee oft into their enemies hands Ier. 12. 7. For so hee witnesseth vnto vs in his word And he is wont to Chasten as many as he loueth Apo 3. 19. For whom the Lordloueth hee chasteneth and scourgeth euery sonne whom he receiueth Heb 12. 6. Yea because hee loueth them and because hee liketh them therefore he instructeth and chastneth them the more hearken what he sayth to that purpose to the Children of Israell his darlings You onely haue I knowne of all the families of the earth therefore I will punish you for all your iniquities Amos 3. 2. He will come to visite you at home to make you better that you may not perish with the wicked world 1 Cor. 11. 32. This might abashe those that are so plagued and yet are happie who otherwise in their weaknesse many times when crosses fall vpon them are wont to say as Sion sayd in her griefe The Lord hath for saken me and my God hath forgotten me Esa 49. 14. But what sayth Gods answer Can a woman forget her sucking Child that she should not haue compassion on the sonne of her wombe though they may forget yet will I not forget thee Behold I haue grauen thee vpon the palmes of my hands thy walles are continually before me thy Children shall make hast thy destroyers and they that make thee wast shall goe forth of thee I i ft vp thy eyes round about and behold all these gather themselues together and come to thee as I liue sayth the Lord thou shalt surely cloth thee with them all as with a raiment and biâ—â— them on thee as a bride doth for thy wast and thy desolate places and the land of thy destruction shall euen now be too narrow by reason of the Inhabitants and they that
if hitherto we haue beene slow and carelesse of making diligent search into the Bible which is the Booke that God himselfe that made vs all hath made let vs with all speede amend that fault all of vs euen from the highest to the lowest For Kings and Princes themselues how great soeuer their affayres here in this world are must not neglect this Booke of God the King of Kings to reade it diligently all the dayes of their liues as in Gods behalfe in his owne booke it is expressely commanded Deut. 17. 18. 19. Now concerning the spirituall order of Gods workes wrought among the Children of men as is opened and manifested vnto vs in Gods Word by diligent search it must be more and more learned and found out and to that end the exposition made in the whole Discourse of this Treatise will be helpfull and giue men some light how they from henceforth may iudge and discerne of the order of Gods workes wrought among the Children of men and be more and more comforted therein ⸪ CHAP. XVII Of the diligent obseruation of all Gods workes among the Children of men needfull for the drawing of spirituall profit out of Gods workes among vs. THe second thing that is needfull and requisite hereunto that out of Gods works done among the Children of men we may more more learne the feare of God and godlinesse is that we should narrowly marke consider of all such his works If any man though well seene and learned in that which God himselfe witnesseth vnto vs in his word that he intendeth to doe among the Children of men touching the gouerning of the world should withdraw himselfe like an Hermite into some solitary place of this world where hee â—ould see no man nor haue the company of any or should shut himselfe vp whole dayes weekes and moneths in his studie still poaring vpon his Books or if he were so continually taken vp with the cares of this world that with blind eyes hee should looke into that which is done and hapneth in the world among the sonnes of men such a man notwithstanding all the knowledge that he could haue of Gods word could draw no fruit nor comfort out of the workes of God done among the Children of men It is necessary therefore for men narrowly to marke what is done and hapneth in the place where they dwell and abide as namely how it fareth with the good and the bad as well in generall as in particular when they are sound in the way of righteousnesse or wickednesse as they are in prosperitie or aduersitie how both the one and the other behaue themselues therein and how they liue what they doe what their vprising going forth and proceedings are all this men must warily and narrowly note in the places where they liue as also the condition conuersation employments blessings punishments sicknesses diseases death and ends of the Children of men and consider thereof for there is no working no proceeding nor any thing that is done in this life touching prosperity or aduersity from the which a Christian man like a Bee may not draw some good fruit That man therefore that hath any iudgement must note and marke all things in such manner that from day to day hee may bee more and more instructed and become wiser and to that end the Psalmist sayth That it is a wise mans worke to make all these things that he may vnderstand the louing kindnesse of the Lord Psal 107. 43. And Salomon sheweth vs that it was his practise to consider all things euen vnto the field of the slothfull and to that end sayth I went by the field of the slothfull and by the vineyard of the man voyde of vnderstanding and loe it was all growne ouer with thornes and nettles had couered the face thereof and the stone wall thereof was broken downe then I saw and considered it well I looked vpon it and receiued instruction Pro. 24. 30. 31. 32. But especially it concerneth a Christian narrowly to note and marke Gods proceedings and dealings with and concerning himselfe and how it fareth with him in the course of his life whether hee followeth Gods will and Commandements or is carelesse thereof And we must euery one of vs particularly consider how ioyfull and good a thing it is to behold a childe of God haunt Gods house to be released and freed from the dulnesse of his peruerse nature and from the gouernment of sinne and Sathan to be shrowded vnder Gods wings and to haue him for his protection and defence and how gratiously he then dealeth with vs when we so doe preserueth vs from a thousand burdens of heauie and grieuous sinnes whereunto otherwise we were wholly addicted and would easily haue fallen into how comfortably he maketh vs to grow vp and encrease in knowledge and grace for the more assurance of his fauour towardes vs and of our eternall saluation And wee must yet narrowly and specially marke and consider on the one side What blessing what comfort and what peace wee haue found for our soules in all occurrents of prosperitie or aduersitie as long as wee serued God and that our hearts were not turned backe neither did our stepps decline from his way Psal 44. 18. Ier. 6. 16. And on the other side into what troubles griefes perplexities disquietnesse of Conscience distrust and feares we haue fallen when by any temptations we fell from the Lord our God and how after our fall when wee truely considered the same and humbled our selues before the Lord our God and againe turned vnto him with true repentance with all our hearts and a true desire to serue him we were againe by him receiued into grace and restored into our former blessed and comfortable state as the same is at large notably set downe vnto vs in the story of the prodigall child Thus euery one of vs must particularly enter into the Closet of his owne Conscience and well narrowly marke in what proceedings we haue beene best furthered and thrust forward to a spirituall life which is the speciall marke that wee should ayme at and what comfort we haue thereby receiued and therein found for our soules that we may with the Church of God say when wee haue forsaken our God and gone astray I will goe and returne to my first husband againe for then it was better with me then now Hos 2. 7. CHAP. XVIII How we must compare that which God doth in this world with that which hee hath set downe in his word that we may draw some good fruit from the workes of God for our comfort THe third thing that is needfull hereunto that out of the workes of GOD done among the Children of men we may know the truth of God set downe in his word for our comfort and consolation is that we collect and gather together whatsoeuer by diligent searching into the word of God and narrowly marking of Gods workes touching Gods proceedings and dealings with
and effectually drawne to the practise of godlines so that we can say vnto our soules Surely this is a good way it hath beene prosperous vnto the end to all those that followed it and all those that enter into it shall endure vnto the end Heb. 13. 7. and if any aduersitie or tribulation happeneth vnto vs yet wee shall bee of good comfort and imboldned for God will then be with vs his Rod and his Staffe shall comfort vs Psal 23 4. 5. The second is that wee are also by the aforesayd considerations made very prouident learned and wise for that by those thinges that are past and which wee haue well considered of and beheld how they were done we learne to know and find out what will follow vpon and proceed from such such the like actions and what good or euill we are to expect if we doe such and such things and so we obtaine the gift of Approbation Phil. 1. 9. and become wise as the children of Israell were to counsell our selues and others what at other times is best to bee done or not to be done 1. Chro. 12. 33. as for example wee haue in former times found that vppon Masse dayes and other Papisticall feast dayes much hurt hath beene done by drunkennesse fighting quarelling and other mildemeanors which for the time to come we thereby learne to be warie of and are warned to shunne them vpon other masse dayes and to withdraw our selues and others from them wee are also taught that the healths which are drunke in signe oâ— loue haue caused much trouble at feasts and banquets and induced great inconueniences and therefore we learne to shunne them and as horne Beasts to banish them out of our feasts Exod. 21. 28. 29. 30. And thus by meanes of the aforesaid declarations Gods grace helping vs we learne how to guide and carrie ourselues in these wicked and dangerous dayes that are so full of inducements stopps stumbling blockes and offences holily and safely into the way of peace and therby daily fit and further ourselues in our iourney towardes Gods kingdome in heauen the place that we aspire vnto The third is that we are likewise by the aforesaid considerations made alwayes prompt and readie in all the things aforesaid and in all other things that belong to a spirituall life and the seruice of the most high God to direct our selues to goe forward therein with all boldnesse confidence and spirituall strength For touching boldnesse and courage when by experience with Dauid we haue found that Gods word and workes agree so well together strengthen so much one the other and keepe so friendly and fast the one to the other We are not affraid to speake thereof before Kings and Princes when neede requireth Psal 119. 46. Yea then with all boldnesse we will vphold defend and aduance Gods cause being well assured that maintaining the same wee shall not be ashamed thereby Secondly we shall also doe it with confidence of heart not as those that heare of it onely by report but that by our owne experience and good knowledge speake and further that which we doe The Apostle witnesseth that being confident in the feare of the Lord hee moued many to the like confidence 2 Cor. 1. 10. And it is strange to consider how certainly they haue spoken of heauen of hell of the comfort of the holy Ghost of guiltinesse of Conscience of the joy of the godly and of the hellish liues of the vngodly that haue noted and marked such things and haue found them true by experience in themselues or in others lastly wee shall also doe all this with strength and that not in this regard onely because doing it with boldnesse and confidence we shall thereby the more forciblie worke vpon mens mindes but further also in that being holpen by the aforesaid experience we shal be able the more fitly to apply the places of holy Scripture to the vnderstanding of those wee shall haue occasion to deale with whereby they may the better perceiue and know that God speaketh by vs and may thereby be moued to fall downe on their knees and honor God 1 Cor. 14. 24. 25. CHAP. XX. The conclusion of all wherein is shewed that we must onely refer our selues vnto God and not forsake a good cause because it seemeth not to goe forward as we wish it should BY all that hath formerly beene sayd we may also learne to be contented with that condition state and manner of life whether it be prosperous or not prosperous or whatsoeuer it be that the Lord shall be pleased to allot vnto vs and to expect a good end and issue thereof For by that which we haue before shewed wee may plainely see and perceiue that wee are not wise enough to rule and gouerne our selues that wee haue not earnestly sought the same but refused it which we now wish that wee had obtained yea that often times with might and maine wee haue sought to put that from vs which afterward wee haue found to be very needfull and necessary for vs and might haue done vs much good and that the Lord our God hath alwayes much better directed our cause then we could either deuise or had power to conceiue yea and that in our greatest troubles a blessing hath beene cast thereupon and that wee haue beene so carelesse and heedles thereof that it was our owne faults that wee perceiued it no sooner but rather that our hearts for a tyme haue in a manner beene ouercome with griefe and heauinesse Againe thus may we be also comforted in all tribulations and aduersities when by our owne experience our soules are able to set before themselues the gracious care which our Lord God hath alwayes had of those that are his people in all their necessities and although matters seeme to be prolonged and our deliuerance to bee delayed yet we must not doubt thereof for we haue learned by the former considerations that the Lord is wont oftentimes to goe round about and to fetch matters a farre off in the comforting and helping of his people that so hee may haue the more honour and may minister more cause of comfort to his Children when vnexpectedly hee helpeth them and by one meanes or other vnlooked for procureth their deliuerance as it euidently appeared in the Children of Israels cause in Hammons tyme as also in Iosephs Dauids and others causes whom he intended to exalt and yet daily in many accidents that befall Gods children in this age yea and in our owne affayres for how often haue wee also before this tyme beene layd in the mire to the very knees and ell-bowes and trod vnder feete by proud persons and yet at the last hath the Lord lifted vp our heads and hath made vs a free people as at this day it appeareth So that in this respect when it seemeth to goe against vs wee may speake of the Lord our God vnto our soules as Naomi said to Ruth of Boaz