the little number of the godly but that prosperitie and aduersitie may both of them be fonnd to happen and to be giuen both vnto the vngodly wheresoeuer they bee and the like againe to the righteous wheresoeuer they remaine which both the word of God and experience teacheth vs to bee true for in the word of God doe wee not finde a righteous Abraham and an vngodly Nabal and both of them were rich A righteous Lazarus and an vngodly sort of men Iob 30. 1. 2. 3. 4. that were poore yea beggars Againe are wee not taught this by experience goe into the tents of Sem looke into the houses of the righteous there you shall finde some in prosperitie and some in aduersitie one house rich another miserable Goe into the tents of Kedar looke into the houses of the vngodly and you shall finde them in the like manner All these things the Lord doth according to his free will and mightie power and dealeth with the children of men according to the absolute vnlimitted and soueraigne pleasure of his will CHAP. III. That Gods proceedings with and towards the children of men cannot by man be comprehended THus then it appeareth that the wayes of God are vnsearchable For who can iudge of and imagine the reason or cause why God sendeth trouble aduersitie pouertie and miserie vnto one righteous man that feareth God shunneth euill and liueth as vprightly as any other of his estate and degree can or may doe and on the contrary exalteth and raiseth another righteous man to great wealth that is not altogether such a one in all degrees as the former On the other side who can enter into Gods counsell to know why God sendeth great trouble and misery to one vngodly man that is not wickeder then his neighbour and on the contrary giueth another vngodly person that in no sort is any thing better then the other great wealth happy state on earth and all prosperitie Nor are we to wonder when we shall behold that which oftentimes wee see to happen here vpon earth That on the one side a righteous man that is zealous of Gods honour fighteth for the defence of Gods cause and seeketh to aduance and further the same is many times so much crost and ouerth warted in his proceedings that it seemeth that both heauen and earth are bent against him and is in such perplexitie that he knowes not which way to winde or turne himselfe as Dauid was when the towne of Ziglag was spoyled and his owne people conspired against him 1. Sam. 30. 6. On the other side that an vngodly man that indureth no manner of aduersitie is an vtter enemy vnto God and seeketh by all the meanes that the can vtterly to extirpate and roote out the memorie of his most holy name out of the earth and yet is oftentimes so much holpen and seconded in his wickednes that heauen and earth and all things therein seeme to hold with him and hee bringeth his affaires vnto so happie and prosperous an end that he is a terrour and feare to the miserable and small troopes of the righteous Who can tell or finde out the true ground of these wayes of God See we not that God many times calleth a righteous man out of this world in the flower of his youth concerning whom in all mens iudgements it had better and it might haue beene wished that hee might still haue continued and liued longer here on earth being one that did so much good in his owne house in the place wherein he dwelt and in his calling wherein hee liued and on the contrary suffereth an vngodly man to liue long and many yeares here in the world being an vnprofitable member that fareth like a roaring Lion and a rauening Beare among his houshâ—â—d spending and consuming all that hee hath or can come by wronging his wife and children defiling the place where hee liueth with scandalous and wicked actions and which is more leading many others with him into destruction and by his long life withholding and keeping others out of some necessarie places of seruice who were they imployed in the same would doe much good Who can declare or truly imagine the ground of this proceeding Doth it not oftentimes fall out that an vngodly man is stricken with an apoplexie while hee is busie about his wicked actions in some one kind or other and also that a righteous person is stricken by the hand of God while hee laboureth about the furtherance and aduancement of Gods glory and is onely carefull thereof That the Lord striketh an vngodly Arrius causing his bowels to burst and his guts to fall out of his belly as hee sitteth vpon the stoole to ease himselfe and so dieth and that the same God bringeth a righteous man his aduersary to the like death who would not be abasht thereat to consider of such incomprehensible wayes and workes of God And when men shall obserue and weigh with themselues in what manner of opposite condition they see and behold both the godly and vngodly they must needes and cannot chuse but acknowledge and confesse that the Lord worketh most wonderfully and vnsearchably therein There are two godly men of one state and qualitie that both liue in great prosperitie and wealth and two other godly men that both liue in great trouble penurie and miserie also there are two vngodly men of one calling and condition that both liue in great wealth and worldly happinesse and two other vnrighteous men that are vnhappy and indure great misery And there are two godly men of one calling whereof the one prospereth in all his affayres the other is crost and troubled There are two vngodly men of one condition whereof the one is crost in his affayres the other prospereth There is a godly and an vngodly man who although they be both of one calling in worldly affayres but yet differ much in their liues and conuersations touching Gods seruice that both liue in great prosperitie And there is a godly and an vngodly man of one condition for worldly matters that both are crost and indure much trouble and aduersitie There is a godly an vngodly man of one state and condition whereof the godly man hath prosperitie and the vngodly man aduersitie And againe there is an other godly man and an vngodly man of one calling in the world whereof the godly man hath much aduersitie and many crosses and the vngodly man great prosperitie What profoundnesse of Gods workes are these what wonderfull wayes of God are these Many men passe these things sleightly ouer but those that haue vnderstanding and know the word of God marking and beholding these things daily to come to passe in the world thereby note how wonderfully the Lord worketh in things that happen vnto the children of men Who can enter into the depth of these waies of the Lord who can tell the reason thereof In all respects then the workes of God are wonderfull to the children
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
THE BALLANCE OF THE SANCTVARIE SHEWING HOVV VVE MVST BEHAVE OVR SELVES When wee see and behold the people of God in miserie and oppression vnder the tyranny of their ENEMIES WRITTEN By WILLIAM TEELINCK Minister of the Word of GOD at MIDLEBROVGH in ZEALAND IEREMY 9. 12. Who is the wise man that may vnderstand this and who is he to whom the mouth of the Lord hath spoken that hee may declare for what the Land perisheth and is brent vp like a Wildernesse that no man passeth through LONDON Printed by I. D. for WILLIAM SHEFFARD and are to be sold at the signe of the Starre vnder S t Peters Church in Corne-hill and in Popes-head Alley 1621. ⧠To the Christian Reader GOod Reader as well the worth of this Worke as the respect that I deseruedly beare to the Author thereof both for his singular pietie and other good parts hath encouraged mee to commend it to thy careful view as that whereby thou maist reape no small spirituall profit if the fault be not thine owne The Doctrine contained in it is both sound and seasonable being as any judicious eye will easily discerne exceedingly wel fitted to the present times And a word saith Salomon spoken in due time is as apples of gold with pictures of siluer both precious and pleasant True it is that some truth indeede is neuer out of season though more seasonable at some times then at other But yet as true it is that some truth also is at some times altogither unseasonable To propound Gods mercy to an obstinate sinner or to aggravate his wrath to a poore dejected penitent were with those false Prophets who deliuered yet nothing it may be but truth mis-applied and mis-placed to make sad the heart of the humbled whom God would haue cheared and to strengthen the hand of the wicked who ought rather to haue beene humbled to slay the soules of such as should not die and to giue life to such as should not liue Matter of mirth and delight though good and honest otherwise yet is as fish or flesh out of season neither wholesome nor wel-relished when God calleth for mourning by judgements either incumbent or imminent As also on the other side mourning is no lesse unsauoury because unseasonable when it pleaseth God to giue just occasion of mirth The Children of the bride-chamber saith our Sauiour caâ—â—â—t fast so long as the bride-groome is with them But the time shall come when the bride-groome shall be taken away from them and then in those dayes shall they fast Each thing therefore is mostpoo pleasant and most profitable when it commeth in his due season and good things doe then most good when they are seasonably administred Now if wee shall but slightly cast our eyes on the ruefull and lamentable face of Gods Church in most parts at this present wee may soone see how seasonably this Discourse commeth abroad Wherein the Author thereof very learnedly and religiously enstructeth us how to judge aright of Gods Iudgements either on our selues or others how to be affected with them and what use to make of them ministring comfort unto and confirming the hearts of the afflicted and distressed urging to compassion with them and commiseration of them those that be yet free and endeuouring by a due consideration of Gods handy-Worke in all those events that befall both eyther for good or euil to bring benefit unto both as being prouoked to a greater measure of sincere thankfulnesse by the one and pressed to a more serious renewing of their repentance and reformation of life and courses by the other But I feare to doe thee wrong by detaining thee too long from that which thou shalt here finde far more fully and â—ffectually discussed and discoursed oâ— then I can easily relate unto thee Much race onely I doubt the Treatise may haue lost by change of its owne natiue weede Few translations haue the happinesse to match their Originals And each Language hath its peculiar formes and phrases which in other Tongues can hardly be so fitly or so pregnantly expressed But what may this way be wanting the matter as I hope it is faithfully expressed may sufficiently countervaile Which respecting I shall entreate thee to pardon and passe by the defects that may be in the Translation wherein what Work-mans hand was used I know not and so to reade this religious Worke intended for thy good that thou maist not misse of the benefit by the Author therein intended Which the Lord grant both to thee and to all others that shall meete with it for his mercies sake Amen Thine in Christ Iesus THO GATAKER The Contents of the seuerall Chapters handled in this Treatise Chapter 1. AN Introduction to the Discourse of the ` Doctrine handled in the Treatise Page 1. Chapter 2. That the outward and externall events of this life happen and fall out almost and in a manner alike both vnto the godly and vngodly Page 4. Chapter 3. That Gods proceedings with and towards the Children of men cannot by man be comprehended Page 6. Chapter 4. Why God so ordereth his workes as we thinke here in this world that in a manner they follow of necessitie and ruleth in such sort that it is commonly ordinarily found that man by his owne wisdome or power can neither adde thereunto nor diminish any thing from them Page 11. Chapter 5. That notwithstanding that Gods workes done and wrought among the Children of men are so wonderfull and vncomprehensible yet we may learne and finde out many speciall things and reape much benefit by his said workes so wrought and done among them Page 15. Chapter 6. Shewing diuers seuerall things which the Lord hath opened vnto vs in his word touching his good pleasure and dealings with the Children of men here on earth necessary to put out of our mindes all doubts concerning the workes of God and to strengthen them in the contrary effects Page 19. Chapter 7. 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 Page 23. Chapter 8. That there is no cause why men should be so much abashed when they shall consider how the enemies of Gods people when they incounter in battaile with the people of God and haue the vpper hand and ouerthrow them Page 27. Chapter 9. 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. Page 36. Chapter 10. That without contradiction it appeareth by the aforesayd order of the workes of God done among the Children of men that there shall be an after-reckoning made with all the Children of men in the world to come Page 43. Chapter 11. That not all outward prosperitie is asigne that the Lord loueth that
man to whom he sendeth the same Page 47. Chapter 12. That all worldly crosses and tribulations are not a shew or signe that God will refuse that man to whom hee sendeth them Page 50. Chapter 13. That we cannot measure the state of men in regard of God by wealth or pouertie by prosperitie or aduersitie that befalleth them in this world Page 54. Chapter 14. That by all that hath beene said and shewed before wee must learne to liue in the true feare of God and sincere holinesse and more and more practise the same Page 65. Chapter 15. How we may profit by all the workes of God which he doth vnto vs and other men in this world Page 69. Chapter 16. Of the distinct knowledge of these things which God in his word touching the gouernment of this world hath manifested vnto vs being very fit and necessary for the drawing of spirituall profit from the workes of God wrought here among men Page 72. Chapter 17. 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. Page 76. Chapter 18. How we must compare that which God doth in this world with that which he hath set downe in his Word that we may draw some good fruit from the workes of God for our comfort Page 79. Chapter 19. Of the seuer all 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 Page 83. Chapter 20. The conclusion of all wherein is shewed that wee must onely refer our selues vnto God and not forsake a good cause because it seemeth not to goe forward as wee wish it should Page 92. THE BALLANCE OF THE SANCTVARY SHEWING HOW WEE MVST BEHAVE OVR SELVES When we see and behold the people of GOD in miserie and oppression vnder the tyranny of their ENEMIES CHAP. 1. An Introduction to the Discourse of the Doctrine handled in the Treatise MAny men beholding the prosperity of the vngodly and the enemies of the Gospell and perceiuing with what violence and crueltie they oppresse those that fight for and striue to defend the truth are thereby more hardned and become crueller euen in the highest degree And some of them thereupon take occasion with the foole to say in their hearts There is no God Psal 14. 1. Making account that those who most trust and relie vpon God are least regarded of God others take occasion to murmur against God because he ruleth not neither directeth things here on earth according to their wills and desires and with the Israelites say in their hearts The way of the Lord is not equall Ezech. 18. 25. And others there are who begin thereupon to suspect and call in question the truth of Gods word yea to forsake it to reiect it and to cleaue vnto lies saying with Gedeon though in another sence If the Lord be with vs why then is all this befallen vs Iudg. 6. 13. Therein doing and yet they will be esteemed Christians like certaine blind Indians whereof we read who when at any time they are ouerthrowne and destroyed by their enemies are wont to pray vnto and call vpon the Sunne for pardon and forgiuenesse and to acknowledge the cause of their proceedings to be vniust And all this hapneth vnto these blind men by the iust iudgement of God because they refuse to take paynes and to spend some time to read and looke into Gods booke which he himselfe hath made touching the proceedings and course that he hath determined to vse hold with the Children of men here on earth For if they had done so they should soone see and know That there is not any thing done here in the world nor that happneth vnto the people of God which God himselfe hath not foreshewed should come to passe and which with his owne hand long before he set downe in the seuerall Register of those things that are to fall out in the world that when they come to passe wee might know and vnderstand that he had foretold it vnto vs Deut. 31. 19. Iere. 16. 4. Therefore in all such accidents and occasions we must with the Psalmist goe into the Sanctuary of God Psal 73. 17. that in the true Ballance of the Sanctuary which is Gods word diligently pondering and examining all the tribulations troubles and miseries that happen to Gods people wee may truely iudge and aright conceiue therof and so we may continue sincere and without offence till the day of Christ Phillip 1. 10. For it is written Great peace haue they which loue thy Law and nothing shall offend them Psal 119. 165. And this in the Treatise following wee will endeuour so to declare that whosoeuer he bee that readeth and marketh the same with a true and vpright heart he may surely effectually find that to be true which the Prophet witnesseth where he sayth that the wayes of the Lord are right and the iust shall walke in them but the transgressors shall fall therein Hos 14. 9. CHAP. II. That the outward and externall euents of this life happen and fall out almost and in a manner alike both vnto the godly and vngodly SALOMON sayth all things come alike to all there is one euent to the righteous and to the wicked to the good and to the cleane and to the vncleane to him that sacrificeth and to him that sacrificeth not as is the good so is the sinner and he that sweareth as he that feareth an oath Eccl. 9. 2. And to the same end where the Scripture in one place sayth many sorrowes shall be to the wicked Psal 32. 10. in another place it sayth many are the afflictions of the righteous Psal 34. 19. This Iob alledged to his friends who therewith concluded vpon and by the miseries and troubles that had hapned vnto him that he was hated of God Arguing that wee cannot truely iudge of the good will and fauour of God towards men here on earth nor yet of their state in regard of God by that which hapneth vnto them in this transitorie world because that the Lord as Elihu acknowledgeth giueth no account of any of his matters Iob 33. 13. and dealeth most wonderfully with the children of men sometime in one manner sometime in another obseruing no certaine methode and yet doth all thinges righteously yet as it is testified vnto vs that it fareth with the righteous euen as with the wicked and with the sinner as the godly man so it is not to bee vnderstood as if euery godly and euery vngodly man should haue alwaies one and the same portion and state of weale and woe heere in this world for that many godly men heere on earth are subiect to great afflictions and many godlesse men liue in abundance of pleasures and so on the contrarie But the meaning thereof is this that weale and woe shall not onely bee incident to the wicked crew or vnto
of men and wholly vnsearchable He hath his wayes in the Seas Psalm 77. 19. And his footsteps are not knowne and his waies past finding out There is no wisedome nor vnderstanding nor counsell against the Lord Prou. 21. 30. Our goodnesse extendeth not to him Psalm 16. 2. Neither can our wickednesse hurt him Iob. 35. 6. 7. 8. Therefore it fareth so with the workes of God that whatsoeuer God doth it shall bee for euer nothing can be put to it nor any thing taken from it Eccles 3. 14 in such manner as experience teacheth that although those that are most diligent and carefull in their affayres goe forward therewith yet many times euen the most diligent and carefull men faile and are crost in their proceedings so that we may well say with Salomon I returned and saw vnder the Sunne that the race is not to the swift nor the battaile to the strong neither yet bread to the wise nor yet riches to men of vnderstanding nor yet fauour to men of skill but time and chance happeneth to them all Eccles 9. 11. And therefore consider wee the time and the chance which God the Lord hath onely reserued to himselfe Acts 1. 7. so that it dependeth wholly on him ⸪ CHAP. IIII. Why God so ordereth his workes as wee thinke here in this world that in a manner they follow of necessitie and ruleth in such sort that it is commonly and ordinarily found that man by his owne wisedome or power can deither adde thereunto nor diminish any thing from them SALOMON expresly setteth downe vnto vs that God so ordereth his workes and heauenly prouidence to the end that men should feare him Whatsoeuer God doth it shall be for euer nothing can be put to it nor any thing taken from it and God doth it that men should feare him Eccles 3. 14. That is that men should not forsake him nor dispise his workes neither yet cleaue vnto nor depend vpon any man but onely vpon God That the wise man may not glory in his wisedome nor the mightie man in his strength nor the rich man in his riches but that hee that glorieth glorie in this that hee vnderstandeth and knoweth that God is the Lord which exerciseth louing kindnesse iudgement and righteousnesse on earth Ieremie 9. 23. 24. By that which before hath been said touching the admirable and strange workes of GOD wrought and brought to passe among the children of men We are taught first not to trust vpon or vnto our owne wisedome diligence beautie strength friends riches nor any other terrestriall thing whatsoeuer it may bee which yet are many times esteemed to bee fit and necessarie for the bringing of worldly matters to passe and to further our proiects but onely to feare the Lord our God and to remember that hee holdeth a greater hand ouer vs then all those things doe Eccles 5. 8. Secondly before and aboue all things to attend to his good will and pleasure touching the euent thereof as much as in vs lieth and as much as possibly we may in all the meanes and wayes which God setteth before vs and which he will haue the children of men to vse and whereby also he commonly vseth to prosper their actions and to blesse them And herein wee must the rather be specially carefull for that the peruerse children of men who by nature are wickedly bent vse to draw another conclusion from this point of doctrine that all things do in such manner depend on God for they conclude not from therice that therefore aboue all things they must onely depend vpon the Lord their God but on the contrary that they need not therefore refraine from euill doing but that they may still follow after their owne lusts and take their pleasures as long as they can They take likewise further occasion thereby to walke most carelesly and dissolutely here on earth with more greedinesse to commit sinne and wickednesse and desperately to enter into all kind of mischiefe reasoning thus with themselues and saying How can I helpe it seeing all dependeth vpon God my resolution is therefore to lay hold on the time and to take my pleasure while I may Whereas on the contrary they ought rather to learne much more to feare the Lord and call to mind and say that seeing all dependeth on God hew much ought I to feare that God who onely can do good or euill vnto me Yea so would they both thinke and doe if they beleeued that this wonderfull God is also a good God But doing other-wayes they shew thereby that they sollow the nature and steps of the Deuill that expecteth no good from the hands of God This conceite of the vngodly must bee cleane banished from vs and we must remember that all things depend vpon God and therefore so vse the meanes that before aboue all things wee seeke and labor to haue God on our side in euery thing that we doe We must also feare him in such manner that we must hold and esteeme all that God doth to be good right and well done although we cannot see nor perceiue the cause or the reason of his actions A Childe seeth his Father doe many things in the house whereof hee cannot conceiue the reason and yet neuerthelesse he reapeth benefit and fareth the better thereby So must we also 〈◊〉 and often times thinke with our selues thaâ— Gods thoughts are not our thoughts nor our wayes hiâ— wâ—â—es for as the heauens are higher then the earth so his wayes are higher then ours and his thoughts then our thoughts Esa 55. 8. 9. And consequently that although Gods wayes vnto fleshly men seeme not to be right yet we must not with the Israelites say the way of the Lord is not equall Ezech. 18. 25. Nay although God suffer the vngodly to liue in great wealth prosperitie and pleasure here in this world and on the contrary maketh the godly to turne his backe vpon the enemie letting them that hate them spoyle them giuing them like sheepe appoynted for meate and scattereth them among the Heathen selleth them for nothing and doth not increase his wealth by their price maketh them a reproch to their neighbours a scorne a derision to them that are about them maketh them a by-word among the Heathen a shaking of the head among the people so that their confusion is continually before them and the shame of their faces doth couer them for the voices of those that reproch and blaspheme them by reason of the enemie and reuenger Psal 44. 10. c. Yet we must thinke well of the wayes of God must not murmur against him nor say that hee hath wrought iniquitie Iob 36. 23. Neither must we by any meanes thinke or conceiue That God should doe wickednesse or that he should commit iniquitie Iob 34. 10. or that the Iudge of all the earth should not iudge right Gen. 18. 25. or that the wise God that giueth the labourer wisedome to plow his Land
thereby to reape a good haruest thereof should himselfe vse no wisedome in the framing of his Children to make them fruitfull Esa 28. 23. 24. But on the contrary although wee cannot conceiue the depth of the wonderfull wayes of God towards the sonnes of men yet we must hold this for a generall rule that all the workes of God are done in truth and righteousnesse Psal 1â—1 8. and that our God is the rocke his worke is perfect that all his wayes are Iudgement a God of truth and without iniquitie iust and right he is and that they haue corrupted themselues and it is a blot to them that they are not his Children but are a peruerse and crooked generation that turne away from him for any cause whatsoeuer a foolish and vnwise Deut. 32. 4. 5. and therefore when any such difficulties enter into our mindes if we will conceiue aright thereof we must not forget the Lord nor deale falsely in his couenant we must not turne our harts from him nor our stepps from his wayes Psal 44. 17. 18. And in all these actions and proceedings how strange and wonderfull soeuer they seeme vnto vs we must be dumb and not open our mouth because it is God that doth it Psal 39. 10. CHAP. V. That notwithstanding that Gods workes done and wrought among the Children of men are so wonderfull and vncomprehensible yet we may learne and find out many speciall things reape much benefit by his said works so wrought and done among them AS it is a most godly and holy thing and very commendable for men in all accidents that happen here on earth among the Children of men to note the finger of God to bee therein and to ascribe the same to Gods powerfull prouidence so we must not slightly refuse or neglect to consider what God the Lord in his wonderfull wisedome hath secretly purposed and intended by this or that course crosse or calamitie that hee bringeth in sundrie wise vpon his chosen people seeing experience teacheth vs that the seuerall things that happen vnto vs during our liues many times produce strange and far other effects then men expect from them It seemed that our case once would haue gone but hardly and would haue beene but sorily supported or countenanced when as long since hee on whom wee then much relied and vnder whose protection wee hoped to rest quietly by a wicked blow was taken from vs And yet neuerthelesse since that time it hath gone with vs better and better We were likewise once perswaded that when such or such of our friends should grow stronger that our affaires would then haue better successe and goe more prosperously forward and yet secretly it fell out otherwise This might moue some men to conceiue and say that seeing it is so with the workes of God that are wrought among the Children of men that his wayes and his proceedings are so strange and vnsearchable how can we then out of Gods workes learne any certaine or speciall thing touching and concerning our owne states and our duties towardes God in his workes whereunto notwithstanding we are so earnestly and oftentimes exhorted and incited in the holy Scriptures Psal 92. 6. 7. Esa 28. 23. 24. Hos 14. Psal 107. Especially seeing it falleth alike with the godly and vngodly man in all their worldly proceedings wherein oftentimes so vnexpected things happen and fall out how can we take occasion thereby to prayse and glorifie the Lord or to humble our selues before him in regard of his extraordinary works as if he had done some speciall thing for vs when as we fare no better then other men commonly do and it is yet vncertaine what will further proceed thereof I answere although instantly by Gods ordinary or extraordinary workes wee cannot conceiue Gods fauour and affection towardes men nor mans state in regard of God thereby to take occasion specially for the same to prayse the Lord our God and to seeke after him notwithstanding when we once well know perceiue mans state in regard of God and our owne or any other mens speciall state in that kind wee may by the ordinary workes of God here done amongst men learne and conceiue many good things as for example when we know a man to be one that truely feareth God and yet see that notwithstanding many crosses and troubles befall him and happen to him in this life we may thereby learne That God the righteous Iudge of all the world findeth cause matter enough when it pleaseth him To try the best men that liue here on earth by laying great tribulations vpon them and by many miseries to proue their patience Iob 4 Whereby also we are further admonished That although we are commanded to liue holily and as much as in vs lyeth to seeke to doe the same yet that we must not perswade our selues that all things therefore here on earth shall fall out well prosperously with vs according to our desires but rather must make our account that neuerthelesse many tribulations and crosses may fall vpon vs here in this world and thereupon prepare and arme our selues patiently to endure them But that we may the better perceiue and vnderstand how to reape much profit by Gods workes done among the Children of men we must know that although they are things that are vnsearchable by men to conceiue why God dealeth so diuersly with one vngodly man in respect of another vngodly man that is like vnto him that the one fareth cleane contrary to the other as for example giuing the one vngodly man much wealth and prosperitie and laying much aduersitie and many plagues vpon the other as also why God imposeth as much and the very same on a righteous man that he doth on an vngodly man and maketh no difference in outward shew betweene them therein giuing both the one and the other eyther wealth or pouertie at his good will and pleasure yet we may by the word of God find out and know why God doth so vnto them or to any other man that is godly or vngodly For the Lord our God that is a wise God hath opened many things vnto vs in his Word concerning his will dealings with the Children of men which if we marke and well consider the same wee shall learne many things touching the ordinary workings of God among men whereof in the next Chapter I will make a further declaration out of the same Word CHAP. VI. Shewing diuers seuerall things which the Lord hath opened vnto vs in his Word touching his good pleasure and dealings with the Children of men here on earth necessary to put out of our mindes all doubts concerning the workes of God and to strengthen them in the contrary effects FIrst and before all other things God in his word openeth vnto vs That he loueth men freely as they are men Titus 3. 4. Which he witnesseth that he doth by being the Sauiour of all men 1 Tym. 4. 10. Therefore also the
and abound in wealth This many men cannot brooke while they are perswaded that it standeth not with the great Maiestie of the God-head and the Iustice of God to deale in such manner and the reason is because they looke vpon nothing but the outward shew and consider not the end for which God doth it for if in the lest degree they did but thinke and remember that God meaneth well to the godly and that their oppressions are wholesome medicines for their soules the better to prepare them for the life to come And on the contrarie that the prosperitie of the vngodly is like the Qualeâ— to the children of Israel that died while they were in their mouthes then they would presently see and perceiue that they haue no cause to doubt of or to misconster and stumble at the workes of God For to speake the truth who is he that will longer stumble at or thinke it strange to see that God loseth and slacketh the bridle to the children of the world but tuâ—â—reth holdeth in restraineth instantly and suffereth not his children to haue their wills when hee remembreth that the Lord doth it to his children to the end that they may become the more spirituall and better prepared for the kingdome of heauen doe wee not the like in matters of lesse importance continually in our houses to our children wee suffer our dogs that weâ— breed in our houses to runne at libertie loose and vntied and haue no regard what they doe nor how it fareth with them but is it not our manner to looke narrowly to our children to keepe them short to teach and instruct them and why doe we so but onely to bring them vp to all vertuous actions and for their better preferment So that it is to a speciall end that wee haue so great a care of our children which in no wise wee doe intend to our dogges but let them runne where they list The word of God therefore aduiseth vs to cast off all doubts and feares touching the workes of God and to rid vs thereof willeth vs not to looke onely vpon the outward end of the children of men and to consider of nothing else but the course of this present world euen as the state of the rich glutton and of poore Lazarus is set downe and declared vnto vs by Iesus Christ himselfe Luk. 16. So the Apostle Saint Paul warneth vs saying Remember those that haue the rule ouer you who haue spoken vnto you the word of God whose faith follow considering the end of their conuersation Heb. 13. 7. And to the same end Saint Iames sayth Behold wee count them happy which indure you haue heard of the patience of Iob and haue seene the end of the Lord for the Lord is very pittifull and of tender mercy Iames 5. 11. Touching the prosperity of the vngodly who would be grieued thereat when wee marke and thinke vpon their endes they stand vpon slipperie ground and soone fall downe and then comes in the hard and heauie reckonings which they must make at the latter day see the 49. Psalme What is hee that grudgeth at the good that men doe to those that are condemned to die or at the friendship that is shewed vnto them by some when they are led to execution to be broken on wheeles or who would not chuse to passe thorough a troublesome and durtie way to inioy a great inheritance then thorough a faire and pleasant way to goe to execution doe not many honest housholders dislike of swaggering companions that dayly and hourely haunt the best Innes and Tauernes in the Citie and consume their wealth in banket after banket as long as their credits last and doe they not thinke them men of little wisedome or consideration and is it not found to bee so when they make vp their reckonings at home in their houses So it stands with the prosperitie of the vngodly many times here in this world they haue great wealth and abundance but they spend vpon their owne stockes and a hard reckoning followeth after it whereas on the contrary godly men that in this world are kept short and spend vpon their fathers purse whether it be superfluously or otherwise as their father thinkes it good haue no feare of an after reckoning all is freely forgiuen them Thus their ends differ much one from another This when the Psalmist considered although before touching this point of the workes of God how the vngodly prosper and the godly liue poore and miserably hee was somewhat troubled and muttred thereat yet at last hee was perswaded as hee himselfe witnesseth saying When I thought to know this it was too painefull for mee vntill I went into the Sanctuary of God then vnderstood I their end Psalm 73. 16. 17. CHAP. VIII That there is no cause why men should bee so much abashed when they shall consider how the enemies of Gods people when they incounter in battaile with the people of GOD and haue the vpper hand and ouerthrow them YET this is not all that which causeth greatest dislike in the hearts of many men touching the workes of God done among the sonnes of men the chiefest reason consisteth herein that men oftentimes see and behold that not onely many vngodly men liue in great prosperitie and many righteous men in great miserie but that men see and obserue that the vngodly oftentimes oppresse the godly and that when Gods people and their enemies encounter in battaile and fight together many times their enemies haue the victorie and ouercome them This is the point that produceth greatest difficultie and many men cannot be resolued how it should come to passe that the seruantes of the most high God that haue his cause in hand that are iealous of his glory and fight for his truth should be ouercome by those that are Gods enemies that Gods cause should turne the backe and falshood and deceit haue the vpper hand this by many men cannot be conceiued nor considered as it should bee for that as things are brought to passe they see nothing but contrary effects The vngodly are hardened in their vngodlinesse and the godly weepe and mourne all thinges are worse and worse and the name of the Lord by this meanes slandred and euill spoken of and his truth blamed I answer we must needes confesse and acknowledge that these are most profound wayes of God but the Lord also in his holy word hath giuen vs to vnderstand what the meaning is of these his most wonderfull workes and telleth vs that he hath reason so to doe both in respect of the godly and the vngodly and of his people and their enemies and first giueth vs to vnderstand that in these occurrents hee is patient and long suffering Luk. 18. 7. That he is not so hastie as wee are Psal 116. 11. Hee can indure that his cause and his peoples cause should sometime bee hindred and that the vngodly should domineire as if Baal or Asâ—aroth and not the
God of Israel ruled and gouerned the world and teacheth vs further that he suffereth it so to bee thereby the more to aduance his honour when hee once begins so to rise vp that his enemies are driuen backe and that he lifteth vp againe the heads of his people which before were deiected and cast downe Thus he witnesseth that for the same cause he suffereth his people of Israell to be humbled that afterward he might aduance them and that so all the world might see that it was neither their policie wisedome nor power but his blessings that had releiued and raysed them vp Deut 8. 9. Here what the Lord to this end sayth by the Prophet The earth mourneth and languisheth Lebanon is ashamed and hewen downe Sharon is like a wildernesse and Basan and Carmell shake off their fruits now will I rise sayth the Lord seeing my people are so much confounded and euery man thinketh that they are wholy ouerthrowne now will I be exalted now will I lift vp my selfe Esa 33. 9. 10. I haue a long time houlden my peace sayth he I haue beene still and refrayned my selfe now will I cry like a trauelling woman I will destroy and deuoure at once Esa 42. 14. the enemies of my people This is Gods purpose when he suffereth his people for a time to be ouer-run and mastred by their enemies which if we consider well we will no longer bee abashed thereat nor stumble at Gods workes though things goe neuer so crosse for a time with Gods owne people and that the enemies of the Gospell thereby seeme to growe strong When we reade of the prosperitie of Hammon the cruell and sworne enemy of Gods people and vnderstand that he proceeded so farre that all the people of Israell were iudged to die and that hee being their greatest and bitterest enemie had the execution thereof committed to him would not men therby conclude looking vpon the outward vntoward proceedings that the Lord had abandoned and forsaken his people of Israell yet we know in the end that the higher that Hammon the enemie of Gods people did clime the neerer the destruction of the Children of Israell seemed to be and the more the enemies of Gods people being disappointed of their purposes were confounded the more honor the Lord did then reap vnto himselfe by the deliuerance of his people So wonderfull is God the Lord in his workes wherby it appeareth that euen then when he suffereth the cause of his people in a manner to fall vnto the ground he still houldeth the rudder in his hand and hath an eye on them and a care that they shall not altogether be ouerthrowne And so all the mis-vnderstanding wrong iudging mis-construing stumblings at Gods workes consists herein that we onely looke vpon exterior things and neuer remember to goe into the Sanctuary of God to looke into the end of his wayes and what his secret meaning is therein Marke what I say Queene Ester that was a great friend to the people of God and sought what meanes she could to deliuer the people of Israell from that danger and to bring Hammon to confusion what course did shee take Shee inuited the King and Hammon with him to be her guests shee receiued and intertained him friendly and Hammon could perceiue no other but that he was very welcome to the Queene and boasted thereof to his friends And yet that was not enough Hester bad him to be her guest the second time and shewed him a fayre countenance from time to time Now what might the Iewes that knew not Queene Hesters meaning haue conceiued and iudged hereof might not they haue thought that Hester also consented with Hammon to helpe to root out and confound the Iewes But the meaning was cleane contrary shee sought to bring Hammon to confusion and to deliuer the Iewes from death the issue thereof sheweth it plainely Hest 5. 7. Thus the Lord our God many times worketh with the enemies of his people hee seemeth for a while to draw them on and to leaue his owne people to make them the more confounded and ashamed when vnexpectedly hee ouerthroweth them and deliuereth his people from them Touching these wayes of God therefore wee must attend Gods pleasure and in the meane time patiently expect his leisure And this God declareth vnto vs in his Word touching his strange workings aforesayd which to men seeme so offensiue yea which is more our good God sheweth vs yet more speciall and waightier causes wherefore at sometimes he suffereth his owne people to be oppressed by their enemies and letteth them fall into great miseries and troubles whereof some conceiue the enemies of Gods people others Gods people themselues Touching his owne people somtimes he suffereth them to fall into the hands of their enemies and by that meanes ladeth them with a heauie yoake because they did not endeuour themselues wisely and as it became them to beare his Fatherly yoake on their necks Heare what the Lord to that end sayth to his people Because that thou seruest not the Lord thy God with ioyfulnesse and with gladnesse of heart for the aboundance of all things therefore shalt thou serue thine enemies which the Lord shall send against thee in hunger and in thirst and in nakednesse and in want of all things and he shall put a yoake of iron vpon thy necke and all this the Lord doth as hee himselfe also witnesseth that his people might know what difference there is betweene seruing of him and seruing the Kingdomes of his enemies 2 Chro. 12. 8. Therefore for that his people by the subtiltie of Sathan the temptations of the world imbecilitie and carelesnesse sometimes esteeme not of the sweete yoake of Christ and calme running water of Shilo as they should doe the Lord layeth a heauie yoake vpon them and bringeth them into deepe and many waters of oppression wherein what strange thing doth the Lord What doth he I say that should moue men in any manner to dislike When we vse to do the same and thinke and perswade our selues that we doe wisely with our owne Children that sometimes wee put to hard Schoole-maisters and cruell teachers for a tyme that they might learne and know how easie a yoake they beare on their shoulders in their Fathers houses which yet when we doe it is out of meere loue and for the good and profit of our Children On the other side touching the enemies of Gods people although then they seeme specially to bee happie and blessed when in that manner they get the vpper hand of Gods people and deuoure them like bread yet the truth is that no greater plague can happen vnto them then when they are permitted to oppresse and wrong the people of God and to wash their hands in their bloud which the Lord in his great wrath sometimes permitteth to be done when hee determineth to suffer them to fill vp the measure of their wickednesse and to hasten their Iudgement and vtter destruction
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
swallowed thee vp shall be far away Esa 15. 16. 17. 18. 19. Therefore all you godly people that are in any trouble or aduersitie remember this and perswade your selues hereof that Gods heart Gods loue and Gods fauour is not with-drawne from you although it appeareth that your outward state is changed the Lord loueth you now as well as he did when you were in your greatest prosperitie God loued Dauid as well when hee was in trouble and hunted vp and downe like a hound as he did when he sat vpon his Princely throne Yea Gods fatherly heart if I may so speake with reuerence is then more friendly vnto you when your state is most crosse and feeble-some as wee see that a louing mother is much more mooued to pittie and compassion to seeke reliefe for her Childe when it is sicke then when it is whole and sound This did Iob beleeue and therewith comforted himselfe and boldly sayd vnto God that then shewed so strange a countenance towardes him as Ioseph did seeme to shew a strange countenance towardes his brethren as if hee would haue punished them and yet meant it not Gen 42. 7. and these things hast thou hid in thine heart I know that this is with thee Iob 10. 13. and therefore concludeth and sayth Though he slay mee yet will I trust in him Iob 13. 15. So the Lord also himselfe witnesseth that hee doth not willingly suffer his people to fall into any trouble but is moued thereunto that he may doe them good at the latter end Deut. 8. 16. Vpon this ground did Dauid also comfort himselfe in all his troubles and said to his afflicted soule Why art thou cast downe O my soule and why art thou disquieted within mee hope thou in God for I shall yet prayse him who is the health of my countenance and my God Psa 42. 11. Yea at the last it shall for certaine goe well with the godly and to that end heare what the Psalmist saith Marke the perfect and behold the vpright for the end of that man is peace But the transgressours shall bee destroyed together the end of the wicked shall bee cut off But the saluation of the righteous is of the Lord hee is their strength in the time of trouble And the Lord shall helpe them and deliuer them he shall deliuer them from the wicked and saue them because they trust in him Psalme 37. 37. 38. 39. 40. And although the godly here in this world endure tribulation and anguish with Lazarus yet they shall receiue the more comfort Luke 16. 25. All teares shall be then wipt away from their eyes Apoc. 7. 17. and euerlasting ioy shall bee vpon their heads they shall obtaine ioy and gladnesse and sorrow and sighing shall flee away Esay 53. 10. and 51. 11. Therefore let the godly comfort themselues with these words in all their sorrowes and troubles ⸪ CHAP. XIII That wee cannot measure the state of men in regard of God by wealth or pouertie by prosperitie or aduersitie that befalleth them in this world BY all that hath beene said and shewed before it plainely appeareth that in this world it fareth for the most part alike both with the godly and vngodly from whence it followeth vndoubtedly and cannot be denied that we cannot measure the state of men in regard of God by that which happeneth vnto them here on earth Iobs friends may imagine because hee was so sore plagued that certainely hee was a very wicked man and hated of God And men by nature are much addicted by outward appearance to iudge of the state of a man in regard of GOD looke touching this Acts 28. 4. 5. 6. Luk. 13. 1. 2. Deut. 29. 19. 20. And marke wee how contrarily the blind Idolaters being of this opinion iudged of their state to God-ward in Ieremies dayes But we will certainely say they doe whatsoeuer thing goeth foorth out of our owne mouthes to burne incense to the Queene of heauen and to poure out drinke offerings vnto her as wee haue done wee and our Fathers our Kings and our Princes in the Cities of Iuda and in the streets of Ierusalem for then we had plentie of victuals and were well and saw no euill But since we 〈…〉 off to burne incense to the Queene of heauen and 〈…〉 drinke offerings out vnto her wee haue wanted all things and haue beene consumed by the sword and by famine Ier. 44. 17. 18. But Christians must neither doe nor thinke so else they shall often by occasion of such actions Mâ—ke the heartes of the righteous sad whom the Lord hath not made sad and strengthen the handes of the wicked Ezechiel 13. 22. Since that wee haue now sufficiently shewed that the Lord oftentimes in his anger sendeth men prosperitie and in his fauour aduersitie Must we may some say make no account at all of that which happeneth vnto the children of men here in this world be it prosperitie or aduersitie but passe it ouer as it is I answer no we must haue a due respect and regard to that which befalleth men and marke what prosperitie or aduersitie happeneth vnto them and how it fareth both with them and vs yet not to this end by the exteriour accurrents of this life to iudge what the state of man is towards God but on the contrary by the aduersitie or prosperitie of men to know what we are to conceiue of the worke of God wrought amongst men and by the knowledge of the seuerall accidents of prosperitie or aduersitie that happen vnto the children of men in what manner soeuer they bee laid vpon them or receiued by them learne to know Gods affection intent purpose and speciall marke whereat he aymeth in sending prosperitie or aduersitie As for example some great crosse and tribulation befalleth a godly man by which yet wee must not iudge that he himselfe or his cause is bad but that the same trouble which happeneth vnto him is sent for a further triall and purging of him 1. Pet. 1. 6. 7. Tribulation also falleth vpon an vngodly man that therein hardeneth his heart towards Gods punishments herevpon wee must conclude that the trouble that falleth vpon such a man as farre as we can iudge is as it were a consuming fire and smoke of the eternall fire 1. Sam. 2. 25. and Chapter 4. Againe some godly man hath much ioy and prosperitie this when we behold we must conceiue that it is a blessing that God bestoweth vpon him to incourage him the more to goe forward in the way of godlinesse Psalme 1 18. and some other man that is vngodly hath great wealth and much pleasure and yet hee is rather worse and more wicked then he was before Deut. 29. 19. Wherevpon we may conclude that his prosperity as farre as we can coniecture is a meanes of fatting him for the day of slaughter Ier. 12. 3. In like manner when the people of God sometimes forget themselues touching their proceedings in their good course of
religion by meanes whereof many times they doe not follow the same so earnestly as they should and is conuenient to be done and that as they march in battaile against their enemies they are not warie according to the counsell of the Lord to keepe themselues from euery wicked thing Deut. 23. 9. it happeneth that God who is more specially iealous ouer his people and is wont to visit their offences home in their houses Amos 3. 2. For that cause many times suffereth them to be ouerthrowne in a cause which otherwise is good as it happened twise to the children of Israel fighting against the Beniamites Iudg. 20. Now when any such thing happeneth the people of God vpon that occasion must not doubt of or call their religion into question but they must looke into their own proceedings in that action touching the defence of their religion in a good cause and thereby take occasion to inquire what thing either in generall or particular hath beene done among them in their proceedings that might displease God in regard whereof hee hath so crost them and hauing found it out humble themselues before God and amend their faults And if in that case they cannot finde any thing which they may conceiue to be the cause of their ouerthrow then they must ascribe the same vnto Gods wonderfull prouidence which is not to bee comprehended by vs but must by euery man with all humilitie and submission bee accepted and well thought of Iob 13. 23. 24. Iob 24. Thus the word of God teacheth vs how to iudge of those tribulations and that prosperitie that befalleth the sonnes of men which if some worldly wise men would looke well into they would not so vnaduisedly scoffe at the actions of Gods children who when they haue had a glorious victorie ouer their enemies therevpon conclude not that their cause was good which the other in their wrong iudgement doubt of but that God hath graciously holpen them in their good cause and hauing receiued any ouerthrow thence conclude that the Lord for their sinnes thereby humbleth them and that by such hard blowes he would awake and rouze them vp not to make them imagine that their good cause is bad but to mooue them to amend their sinfull liues that they may not thereby hinder their good cause and to cause them in all occurrents to depend vpon the truth and when they prosper to giue God the Lord the honour and glory and when they are ouerthrowne and punished to ascribe the fault thereof to themselues this I say no worldling would scoffe at as they vnaduisedly doe if they had learned this infallible truth of God Which neuerthelesse is true that is that by the knowledge of the seuerall chances that happen vnto the children of men wee must measure the meaning and intent of God in sending prosperitie and aduersitie vnto men for it is true that Gods children as wee finde in the holy word of God alwayes praised the Lord when they had the victorie ouer their enemies as Dauid saith Lord I know that thou louest mee in that thou hast not deliuered me into the handes of mine enemies nor giuen them occasion to triumph ouer me Psal 41. 11. And againe humbled themselues for their sins when they were ouerthrowne Lament 3. 39. not once in regard thereof making any doubt of their religion or imagining that Idolatry had iustly gotten the vpper hand against the true seruice of God Besides this we must further know that the thinges of this world haue not their issue and effect alwayes according to their owne nature and properties but as the Lord who ruleth them all pleaseth to order them By meanes whereof it falleth out that aduersitie which of it selfe is hurtfull yet procureth great good to the godly and that prosperitie which of it selfe is pleasing doth yet bring great hurt to the vngodly And hereby it commeth to passe that all things worke together for the good of them that feare God Rom. 8. 28. And on the other side that all things worke together for the worst to them that hate God in regard that their mindes and consciences also are vncleane and accursed Tit. 1. 15. Let an vngodly man be aduanced and set aboue all his other neighbours he will become proud and insolent and ouer-throw himselfe thereby Againe let a godly man haue any tribulation befall him hee will humble himselfe and become better thereby and so to the pure all things are pure but vnto them that are defiled nothing is pure or profitable Tit. 1. 15. And this proceedeth from hence that the godly on the one side are a godly plant and a heauenly branch hauing so great and admirable a power in it that the man that is godly is so framed by Gods grace that whatsoeuer hapneth vnto him or is layd vpon him how troublesome aduerse hurtfull or mischieuous soeuer it be of it selfe by nature is turned to the best vnto him and to his good and prosperitie for Godlinesse is profitable to all things hauing promises of the life that now is and of that which is to come 1. Tim. 4. 8. And on the other side the vngodly being a plant of he Deuill and a branch of hell hath so venimous a stalke and so poysonfull a nature that the man who is rooted therein and will not be brought to leaue and abandon it but still keepeth it by him it is certaine that whatsoeuer happeneth vnto him how good profitable and beneficiall soeuer it be by nature it turneth to his hurt and destruction in such manner that euen the pleasing and sweet sauour thereof is contrary vnto him and is with him the sauour of death vnto death And whereas the godly sauour life euerlasting in Christ and eternall saluation The vngodly sauour nothing but death in Christ and euerlasting condemnation 2. Cor. 2 16. Hence it euidently appeareth that by outward things which happen vnto men wee must not by any meanes measure nor iudge their state to God-ward at the first dash but on the contrary by their state to God-wardes iudge what we are to conceiue of the outward thinges that happen vnto and fall vpon them By this that hath beene said may many men learne to reforme their erronious opinions and not those only of whom we spake in the eleuenth Chapter who are wont to take occasion by their outward prosperitie to boast themselues of their actions and are perswaded that both they and their actions please God well because outwardly they haue wealth and prosperitie whereas they should not iudge their state in regard of God by their outward prosperitie but their prosperitie by their state But others also that are perswaded and imagine that all men when soeuer any trouble or aduersitie falleth on them and that they are many wayes molested as stricken sicke on their beds or troubled by their enemies are wont thereupon to flatter and sooth vp themselues and to grow thereby into some good perswasion that hereafter
they shall fare the better for the same because they haue endured so much here in this world and that it be certainely concluded thence that they are Gods Children that God loueth them well because they are troubled and much tribulation here befall them But this is no certaine token that God liketh well of vs because he sendeth vs trouble and aduersitie for hee doth the same to the vngodly as wee haue alreadie declared And therefore wee must not by outward things which happen vnto men either our selues or others iudge or censure our owne or their state to God-ward but on the contrary by our state to God-ward we must iudge the state of such outward things whether they bee sent vnto vs as signes of Gods grace or of his wrath It behooueth all those then whom God suffereth to fall into any tribulation or misery to be certainely perswaded that by the same as the godly vse to doe they ought to become better and better and to be purged and cleansed that doing so they may bee certainely perswaded in their consciences that they are punished by God in loue To which purpose our heartie wish and prayer vnto God is that all those that beare the name of Gods people would take occasion by the visitation which the Lord God sendeth vpon his people in these our dayes to weigh well and consider seriously their owne present estate and to looke diligently into themselues that they might find out their owne sinnes and misdeedes for it is most certaine that no man can haue any true comfort from the ground of Gods word in any tribulation that falleth vpon the people of God but he who findeth himselfe to be thereby so affected that he doth not onely grieue for the common misery of Ierusalem but is also stirred vp to amend his owne life in whatsoeuer he findes amisse in himselfe for so it is written that we shall then know be certainely perswaded that God punisheth vs out of his loue when by the punishments of God we become better and more zealous towardes him As many as I loue I rebuke and chasten be zealous therefore and repent Apoc 3. 19. And this we must bee so much the more perswaded of for that although the Lord vseth so to deale with his people that he sendeth them some reliefe and in part easeth them of their troubles when they are fallne into them and in them call vpon him yet that his arme is still stretched forth and his wrath is not asswaged vntill his people put away from them and cleane cast off that which displeaseth and disliketh him and for which hee doth visite them Which with all our hearts wee wish might by euery one bee well and earnestly thought vpon It is not to be doubted but that all the troubles which in our tymes haue fallne vpon the people of God haue had their beginning from hence that we haue not so thankefully as we ought to haue done receiued the holy Gospell and the truth of Gods word For we haue many tymes begun to neglect the light of Gods truth which hath grieued the Lord and for the same he hath visited vs at home which wee haue also in part begun to obserue and acknowledge and haue thereupon made a shew as if wee would amend and reforme it and haue humbled our selues before God with fasting prayer making diuers faire shews and promises as if we meant to become better and better and to earry our selues with more obedient hearts towardes God then formerly we had done Whereupon the Lord our God who is good and long-suffring towards vs hath againe begun to blesse vs done great things for vs and according to our hearts desire filled vs with great hope and expectation that he would more and more lift vp our heads and giue vs many good things But in all these things wee doe not once remember or thinke on our promises and vowes that we made so solemnely vnto him both in the beginning of our troubles and now also in these latter dayes while we were in trouble and necessitie Psal 68. 14. For what I pray you hath since that time beene amended Who hath since begun to be more zealous for the honour of God Who hath begun to put forth his hand for reformation of the notable abuses that are common amongst vs which euery man noteth which euery man complaineth of which euery man disliketh and yet no man amendeth and yet wee made promise and vowed vnto God euery man for his particular to looke vnto it Now while the dayes of our fasting and humiliation lasted and brought such solemne power and promises with them by meanes of those promises and vowes for a tyme we procured the threatning hand of God to hold vp and a beginning of such great matters appeared But since that wee haue not performed those promises made vnto God neyther haue come any thing neere vnto the performance of them as at this day it appeareth what wonder is it now when wee are not true of our word when we suffer all things to run at six and seuens and as they will and doe not as we should begin to pay our vowes and promises vnto the most high God and euery man to amend that which is amisse with him from the particular house-houlder and so vpward to those of highest degree what wonder I say now is it that God hath begun to lift vp his threatning hand againe and that he suffereth vs to fayle of that we hoped and expected and sends vnto vs hard messages that may againe warne vs in Gods name to pay our vowes and keepe our promises with God or that els he will execute his Iudgment vpon vs thrust vs out of all that we haue as one that is our creditor and with long patience hath borne with vs whom we haue still payd with faire words but haue not once beene moued in our hearts to find the meanes to keepe our promises and to moue â—â—m to mercies whereon notwithstanding our saâ—etie well-fare specially consisteth yea wholy dependeth Therefore once againe I say and wish with all my heart that this may be well carefully lookt into for it stands vs vpon and importeth vs much And if that we shall be serious and earnest therein then all the aforesaid prosperities of the Children of God will powerfully ouer-shadow vs and we shall alwayes finde that the Lord is with vs and that it is all in vaine for our enemies to seeke to destroy vs for If the Lord be with vs who can hurt or harme vs Rom. 8. 31. Psal 27. 1 2. CHAP. XIIII That by all that hath beene sayd and shewed before we must learne to liue in the true feare of God and sincere holinesse and more and more practise the same SEeing the case then so standeth as most euidently appeareth that whatsoeuer men doe whether they liue holily and godlily or wickedly and irreligiously yet it auaileth them nothing in
this respect to wit that they cannot thereby wholy free and deliuer themselues from all troubles and aduersities of this life nor yet bereaue themselues vtterly of all outward wealth and prosperitie but that the same things may happen vnto them whither they liue godly or wickedly that also it further standeth so with men that if they liue godly both their prosperitie and aduersitie are blessings vnto them and on the contrary that if they liue wickedly as well their prosperitie as their aduersitie is a curse vnto them and that to either of them in so high a measure and degree that the prosperitie and aduersitie of the godly are either of them a furtherance vnto them to euerlasting saluation and as it were a pawne that hereafter both here and for euer it shall goe well with them Psal 23. Phillip 1. 28. 2 Thess 1. 5. 6. 7. Whereas vnto the vngodly both their prosperitie and aduersitie are a meanes to further their eternall damnation and as it were a pawne and assurance vnto them that hereafter both here and eternally it shall goe euilly and hard with them Leuit. 26. Luke 16. 19. Apoc. 18. 7. We must learne therefore and be admonished hereby if we haue not made a couenant with hell and giuen our selues ouer to the Deuill to forsake and abandon wickednesse which is so much accursed and so damnable and on the contrary to cleaue vnto godlinesse which is so happie and so much blessed and in this regard should we in this manner argue and reason with our selues I know very well that a godly course of life and conuersation is much better then a loose vngodly and wicked course as yet I haue so much feare of God in me and if I can in any sort effect that which I desire by good and honest meanes I rather desire so to liue then to follow lewd wicked and vngodly courses and to vse wicked wrong and euill practises to obtaine onely some profite pleasure credit furtherance and benefit which thereby I hope to get But now I am taught that in respect of the outward things of this life it fareth almost alike both with the godly vngodly therefore I may much better attaine vnto an vpright life by the way of godlinesse then by the way of vngodlinesse And withall if I consider it well I cannot but remember that to the godly both prosperitie and aduersitie are blessings and on the contrary that to the vngodly both prosperitie and aduersitie are curses for that there is an after-reckoning to bee made in the world to come wherein euery one shall bee rewarded according to that which he hath done whether it be good or euill and after that followeth the eternall Iudgement whereby the vngodly are disposed of and presently sent downe to the bottome of hell where there is weeping and wailing and gnashing of teeth world without end and on the contrary the godly are taken vp into heauen where all joy aboundeth and happie life eternall is obtained for them by our Sauiour Iesus Christ And if in any wise I should doubt of these things to come yet the same are of so great waight and consequence that it behooueth euery man earnestly to thinke on them and to haue a care to make sure worke thereof seeing that wisedome teacheth vs not to prepare onely for difficult inconueniences which wee know certainely will come but to bee carefull also to preuent such as may come vpon vs and the rather cause to seeke to attaine vnto these outward things that I desire by godly meanes for that by following godlines in true faith without feare of any aduersitie my meate will not be lesse sauory nor my sleepe lesse sweete yea all my actions will thereby bring and procure more fruit and comfort vnto mee and how much more since that then I shall liue without feare of death and hell and in an assured hope of heauen and eternall saluation In regard hereof therefore I am fully determined to leaue and aband on all vngodlinesse and to follow godlinesse and to deny my selfe and to giue my mind wholly to serue the Lord my God and no longer to fullfill the desires of the flesh whereon so many miseries do depend but to follow the will of God which onely is good during my mortall dayes that hereafter I may alwaies liue eternally in heauen In this manner or the like by thinking vpon the things before declared should we set our harts vpon the way of godlinesse and the feare of God so cast our lot into the lap of the godly knowing that without doubt it shall goe well with such men And to the end that wee may bee enduced and enabled the more diligently to follow godlinesse by meanes of Gods workes done here vnto vs and others which he bringeth to passe in this world wee will endeuour further to declare and show how and in what manner wee must prepare our selues to know learne and reape some good out of Gods workes for the furtherance of the feare of God and godlinesse in vs and what speciall fruits we may reape thereby CHAP. XV. How wee may profit by all the workes of God which hee doth vnto vs and other men in this world THat we may reape good and conuenient fruit here on earth by the workes of God done among men wee must by that which happeneth vnto vs as also to others yea and out of all things that are done in the world and which are known vnto vs diligently consider and be thereof thoroughly perswaded how true euery word and sillable of Gods holy word is how firmely and certainely it is fulfilled and how constantly and peremptorily that daily proceedeth and falleth out in this world which he saith in his word that hee will bring to passe that in all things and at all times we may say with the Church of God As we haue heard so haue wee seene in the Citie of the Lord of hosts in the Citie of our God God will establish it for euer Selah Psalm 48. 8. And with Salomon speaking to the Lord That which thou hast promised to him and spakest with thy mouth to thy seruant Dauid my father and hast fulfilled it with thy hand as it is this day 2. Chron. 6. 15. And to the end that this may bee thus effected to our comfort and benefit we must indeuour our selues in the whole course of our liues narrowly and earnestly to marke and consider whatsoeuer falleth out of any weightie consideration that we here see done or suffer in this life be it temporall or spirituall and whatsoeuer is against vs that is done in the world and commeth to our knowledge and compare them with that which God hath made manifest in his word and protested that he 〈…〉 bring to passe or effect and accordingly nâ—tâ— and consider seriously and vndoubtedly that what soeuer God hath foreshewed in his word hee daily bringeth to passe in his workes To this purpose God hath
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
his hand hee effecteth and bringeth the same to passe in gouerning of the worlde Now this is a most notable fruit for vntill such time as that wee doe dewly and truly marke how true Gods word is and how truely God performeth bringeth that to passe continually in the gouerning of the world which in his word hee hath promised and threatned to doe wee shall neuer esteeme of feare nor submit our selues vnto Gods worde and on the contrary when by our owne dilligent obseruation wee find out and are perswaded of the truth and certaintie of Gods worde wee are thereby at all times led and induced to the loue of Gods word and incouraged to beleeue it and to esteeme well thereof Iohn 2. 12. It is sayd that the worde of God is quicke and powerfull and sharper then any two edged sword Heb. 4 12. Now no man doth easily beleeue this but hee that by feare of the word of God is moued therunto in his heart Acts 2. 37. and 1. Cor. 14. 24. 25. and he that is so affected doubteth no more thereof then hee doth that the Sunne is bright and cleare and he that hath this feeling of the worde working in his soule hath vndoubtedly already made a good entrance into the way to Gods kingdome for this is most certaine and sure that all the sinnes and misdemeanours which those men commit that withstand the written worde which is the liuely truth of God proceede from this that they do not beleeue that the same word is so true and certaine as it is The second fruit is that wee learne by the aforesayd declarations the abundant largenesse and copiousnes of the holy Scriptures psal 119. 96. It is not to be spoken if wee woulde apply our minds earnestly and as wee ought to find out places in the Scriptures that may bee applyed to those things that happen and are done in this world what a rich mine of gold wee should find the Scriptures to bee and should hardly after we had once conuersed therein fayle of some one fitt place or other therein that might bee applyed to all the thinges that while wee liue we should haue neede of or are to be done by vs 2. Tim. 3. 16. which if the Papists had done they would soone haue perceaued and knowne that there was no neede nor necessitie to finde out and invent many new Lawes and Rules for the ordering of mens liues thereby to bring men to saluation as they haue done whereby the holy Scriptures are by them brought into contempt and in a manner abandoned and thrust wholy out of vse The third is that we are by the aforesaid considerations holpen and better furthered in the vnderstanding of the holy Scriptures It is not to be expressed nor spoken how the earnest and serious marking of Gods proceedings with the children of men and with our owne soules giueth a singular great light to the true vnderstanding of many places of holy Scriptures whereof otherwise those that haue no experience nor knowledge of things touching and concerning a spirituall life can neuer conceiue any thing as may appeare in many places of the Psalmes which otherwise cannot so well bee conceiued how they hang and depend one vpon another we can truely witnesse that sometimes from the mouthes of simple plaine men wee haue receiued a verie fit and conuenient sence and interpretation of some places which otherwise were very intricare which they by their owne obseruations haue learned and found out to be so and in such manner vnderstood and it falleth out often times that vpon occasion of that which we haue heard seene to happen among men we were aduertised and haue beene taught the meaning of diuers places of Scriptures which touched vpon such occasions and whereof before we could not finde out the true meaning This is expressely taught in the proceedings of Christs Disciples of whom it is sayd that notwithstanding that Christ spake plainely of his death resurrection yet that they could not vnderstand it nor diue into the depth thereof Luk. 18. 33. 34. but that afterwardes by obseruing the event of things they vnderstood it Ioh. 2. 22. And thus a godly heart that is wont to looke into Gods workes becommeth an Interpretor to it selfe of many places of holy Scriptures Touching the second sort of Benefits concerning Gods workes we reape hence this speciall fruite in that we learne by the declaration aforesayd not to become so peruerse nor resolute concerning many things actions that are done and happen in the world whereas many simple men that haue not busied their braynes about looking into the word of God nor in marking of the course of Gods workes become obstinate thereby and grow carelesse and slacke to regard the spirituall life in regard of the prosperitie of the vngodly and the aduersitie of the godly which at the first they could not vnderstand nor conceiue and therefore gaue a wrong interpretation of them because they entred not into the sanctuary of the Lord which now is his worde for when wee wholy relie vpon the word of God in all worldly accidents wee attayne vnto the right vnderstanding of things that belong vnto God and are not thereby hardened but rather instructed and made better psal 92. 6. 7. psal 73. Iob. 17. 8. 9. Touching the third sorte of fruits concerning the manner of our obedience which according vnto the word of God wee owe vnto him there are three fruites In the first place wee are by the aforesayd declaration instructed to discerne our owne and other mens ouersights and are therby aduertised both how sinne on the one side by carelesnesse of liuing the pleasures of the worlde and all maner of wicked actions doth oftentimes procure diuers inconueniences and perplexeties vnto those that are adicted thereunto and in all occurrents makes their prosperitie a cursed vnto them which putteth vs in great feare doubt to enter into that way that is so full of danger so troublesome as that we our selues by our own experience can say vnto our soules Oh my soule enter not into this way I haue seene many fall therein I my selfe haue often beene hardly besied therein and so long as wee will goe into this way our prosperitie will become a curse vnto vs and be a meanes to ouerthrow vs and if wee can say thus much by our owne experience to our soules it will be a powfull meanes to diuert vs from the way of the vngodly and againe on the other side when by the aforesayd declaration wee finde and see that the feare of God constancie righteousnesse good workes and godlinesse for certaine haue the promises of this life and the life to come yea and that those that are indued therewith haue great peace of conscience and are preserued from many mischances whereinto wickednesse and sinne draw men and that in all dangers and perplexities they are comforted and imboldened we can not but be therby strongly prouoked