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
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
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
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
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
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
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
beheld from the highest heauens the place of his holy habitation and it grieued him much to see and perceiue such great vnthankfulnesse and ingratitude for so excellent a gift then the which next vnto saluation it selfe no better hath beene giuen by God vnto the children of men For which cause hee hath suffered the vnthankefull world and that would not accept the loue of the truth to fall into strong delusions and great doubts whereby they tooke occasion to cleaue vnto and beleeue lies So that in this our age wee haue seene in the reformed countries of the world many great and very dangerous disputations to arise and controuersies to grow touching religion whereby many men that looke no further then vpon the outward shew and face thereof were so much amazed and abashed thereat that they began more and more to dislike it and to leaue it These are deepe wayes of God which therefore ought to haue mooued all Christian hearts to search into the intent and meaning of God and withall to take occasion to shake off the aforesaid vnsauoury ingratitude and to bend their mindes vnto a more wholesome course of obedience But this hath beene practised by very few and at this day is yet too much neglected For which cause the wrath of God hath beene more and more kindled and his out stretched arme hath not holden backe but in his anger he is gone foorth and hath suffered the vngodly world that hardeneth it selfe to fall into more hardnesse and delusion as euery man knoweth how much the blind world now hardneth and imboldneth it selfe each one in his errours vpon occasion of the present troubles that daily happen to the people of God in these dayes for the enemies of the Gospel thereby take occasion to thinke and perswade themselues that they haue done great and good seruices vnto God and yet doe when they persecute and seeke to roote out the protectours and professours of the truth and those that haue halted betweene both thinke themselues happie that they as many others haue not throwen their lot into the lap of those whose chance they thought might alter and change Thus the Lord as he hath threatned letteth it raigne snares fire and brimstone and a horrible tempest vpon the vngodly Psal 11. 6. wherein they shal be taken spoyle themselues For in all these things those wretched men doe not once remember that when to fulfill their owne pleasures they doe so they iudge vniustly of Gods truth and thereby offend against the generation of his Children Psalm 73. 15. How oftentimes was Israel troubled and vexed with contentions and warres amongst themselues yea and ouer-runne also by the Philistines and other enemies whereas notwithstanding the Israelites were the onely people of God and onely had the light of saluation among them What inuasions and incursions haue the cruell Heathen diuers times made vpon the Christians and yet wee know that the Christians and not the Heathens haue the truth on their side But these things the Lord sometimes suffereth to fall vpon and come against his owne people to cleanse them to try their faiths to the end that those that remaine obstinate might haue that which they haue deserued 1. Corinth 11. 19. Matth. 18. 7. And thus it falleth out that such miserable men that glorie and take most delight to behold the troubles persecutions of Gods people that boast off and perseuer in their enmitie and peruerse proceedings are those certainely that are most plagued thereby for that by such meanes they are hardened in their errors and delusions which lead them into perdition Can greater plagues then these bee any wayes bee thought on and all this also is iust and righteous with God that those that receiued not the loue of the truth that they might be saued might fall into strong delusions and beleeue lies 2. Thes 2. 10. 11. And that those that are the causes of reuolting and doubts raised and sometimes strongly mainetaine them should haue the same measure mett vnto them and thereby fall into perdition Thus it fares with them by the wonderfull prouidence of God as the Psalmist saith As they loued cursing for they delighted in errour so let it come vnto them Psalm 109. 17. Besides all the curses that yet hang ouer their heads for the oppression shame disgrace and wrongs by them done vnto the children of God in their troubles and aduersities for it is most true and certaine that although the Lord God suffer his people for a while to bee oppressed by their enemies when he hath once finished all his workes vpon Mount Sion and sufficiently punished his people he will goe to visite their enemies in their owne houses and cast the rodde of his anger into the fire Esa 10. 12. Behold how excellently the Psalmist setteth this forth saying When God heard this that is that his children many times rebelled against him hee was wrath and greatly abhorred Israel so that he forsooke the Tabernacle of Shiloh the tent that he had placed among men and deliuered his strength into captiuitie and his glory into the enemies hand he gaue his people ouer also vnto the sword and was wrath with his inheritance The fire consumed their young men and their maidens was not giuen to marriage their Priests fell by the sword and their widdowes made no lamentation Thus farre it went on Gods enemies side as we read 1. Sam. 4. but marke what followeth Then the Lord awaked as one out of sleepe and like a mightie man that shooteth by reason of wine and he smote the enemies in the hinder parts hee put them to a perpetuall reproch Psalme 75. 59. 60. 61. 62. 63. 64. 65. 66. which also wee read in the first of Samuel the fifth This is the heritage of the seruants of the Lord and their righteousnesse is of mee sayth the Lord Esa 54. 17. That the Lord God in his time shall recompence tribulation to those that trouble them and giue rest to those that are troubled 2. Thess 1. 67. euen in the time of need Heb. 4 16. And thus it appeareth alwayes that although the Lord seemeth to haue forsaken his people for a while and to hold with their enemies yet in truth and certaintie this standes firmely That God will not cast away righteous man neither will hee helpe the euill doers Iob 8. 20. how much soeuer he seemeth to stand against his owne people and to strengthen the hand of the vngodly These are the wonderfull wayes of our God and this is the certaintie of his workes done among the children of men which mooued the Psalmist that had a spirituall eie in some measure to looke into the waies of God and to set downe the truth thereof to breake out into this speech and say O Lord how great are thy workes and thy thoughts are verie deepe a brutish man knoweth not neither doth a foole vnderstand this Psalm 92. 5. 6. Thus wee may see that although the workes
giuen vs a liuing soule and hath taught vs more then the beasts of the earth and made vs wiser then the fowles of heauen Iob 35. 11. to this end hee hath set vs vpon the stage of the world that wee might plainely see and marke for our comfort and consolation the waies of the children of men here vpon earth together with the seuerall euents that proceed and spring from thence by Gods heauenly prouidence Vnreasonable beasts that liue here among vs as Dogs and Catts see what is done in the world and see it with as cleere eyes and many times better and plainlier then men doe If man then doe not endeauour himselfe with the inward eyes of his vnderstanding not onely to see and marke what is done or what passeth in the world but which is more to marke the finger of God to bee therein and thereby to learne the truth and constancy of God such a man differeth not much from a beast or an vnreasonable creature Psal 49. 21. Psal 32-11 in regarde of spirituall life whereon the difference betweene the one and the other wholy dependeth yea hee is therein worse then an vnreasonable beast for heauie plagues hang ouer the heads of such carelesse and brutish persons as haue no regarde vnto the workes of the Lord. Heare what the Psalmist sayth because they regard not the workes of the Lord nor the operation of his handes hee shall destroy them and not build them vp Psal 28. 5. which in truth is a most fearefull threatning and sheweth that God esteemeth and holdeth such carelesse men to bee most wicked To which purpose also Salomon sayth Wicked men regard not that which is right but those that feare the Lord marke all things Pro. 20. 5. For this cause wee are often times warned and aduised to this diligent marking in holy Scripture Seeke you out of the booke of the Lord and reade noe of these shall fayle none shall misse her mate for his mouth it hath commaunded and his spirit it hath gathered them together Esay 34. 16. Iosu 23. 14. this also Iobs friendes and Iob himselfe also marked diligently in the whole course of their liues as in the whole booke of Iob it is sufficiently declared And all the misvnderstanding that they had among themselues touching Gods workes partly consisted heerein that they vnderstoode not the word of God so plainely as wee doe and partly also by reason of the extraordinary strange and vnaccustomed dealing of GOD with IOB which hee as then for a time layd vpon him for a warning comfort and strengthening of all his people as long as the world should endure as also to that end he causeth it to bee written Ier. 4. 13. Now from hence also it further appeareth that to the end wee may truely to our comfort and with some fruite consider of all the workes of God wrought among the children of men there are 4. thinges specially and very necessarily to bee obserued First some distinct knowledge of Gods proceedings manifested vnto vs in the holy Scriptures Secondly a diligent marking of all Gods workes wrought heere among the children of men Thirdly a comparing of that which he doth in this world with that which hee witnesseth in his word Fourthly a constant noting of the seuerall fruites that springe from the finding out of the truth of God opened vnto vs in his word and works And of all these 4. in the chapters ensuing wee will speake some what more at large CHAP. XVI Of the distinct knowledge of these things which God in his word touching the gouernement of this world hath manifested vnto vs being very fit and necessarie for the drawing of spirituall profitt from workes of God wrought heere among men THat the certaine knowledge of the will of God opened vnto vs in the holy Scriptures touching the gouernment of the world is necessarily to be had that wee may reape profit by the works of God done among the children of men it is manifest for how can any man else knowe and vnderstande whether that which happeneth in the world agreeth with that which God hath written in his word Since it must needs be that if a man doe not vse to reade Gods word nor know what God therein setteth downe vnto vs they must of force erre when they take vpon them to iudge of Gods workes and to them it may be sayd as Christ sayd to the Saduces You erre not knowing the Scriptures Mat. 22. 29. For this cause as many learned men that are well read in the letter of the holy Scriptures yet many times can not well iudge of the actions and proceedings of men because they haue not vsed to compare that which God hath spoken in his worde with that which dayly by his hand hee bringeth to passe in the gouernmēt of the world so it is certaine that those that are not accustomed to reade peruse the holy Scriptures and therefore know them not can not with any spirituall vnderstanding or profit marke Gods works here on earth among the sonnes of men It is necessary therefore for euery one that wil discharge and vnburthen his conscience therein to be conuersant in the holy Scriptures And it is a most notorious in gratitude vnthankefulnes and a damnable carelesse slouth among great smale young and old that seeing God our great God the maker of the whole world that setteth vp and puileth downe Kinges Dan. 2. 12. hath vouchsafed as it were with his owne hande to write a booke for vs touching the order that hee doth and will hold and obserue in the gouerning of this worlde that thereby wee might certainely and sufficiently knowe his meaning and order our wayes and by the light of the same booke might be holpen well and wisely to iudge of all Gods workes touching the gouernment of the world for our comfort and consolation Rom. 15. 4. that wee miserable poore and wicked children of men that many times are so curious to search into and to read the Histories and Iournals of mortall mens actions that scarce haue trauelled through any small parte of the world and that would esteeme it a great honor and fauour and would with all thankefullnes embrace and run after it If wee might be permitted to enter into the studie of a great potentate of this worlde to reade Arcana Imperij the order that hee holdeth in his gouernement that yet I say we poore simple wretches are found to be so slow and carelesse of the looking into Gods booke whereas notwithstanding the same booke so highly both in generall and perticular specially concerneth vs being that which setteth downe vnto vs the state of our euerlasting saluation or condemnation and how wee must heere on earth behaue our selues vnder the gouernement of our God that heereafter in the worlde to come wee may alwayes and for euerliue with him in heauen Iohn 3. 39. This in truth is an vnreasonable ingratitude and a most woefull and damnable contempt Therefore
if hitherto we haue beene slow and carelesse of making diligent search into the Bible which is the Booke that God himselfe that made vs all hath made let vs with all speede amend that fault all of vs euen from the highest to the lowest For Kings and Princes themselues how great soeuer their affayres here in this world are must not neglect this Booke of God the King of Kings to reade it diligently all the dayes of their liues as in Gods behalfe in his owne booke it is expressely commanded Deut. 17. 18. 19. Now concerning the spirituall order of Gods workes wrought among the Children of men as is opened and manifested vnto vs in Gods Word by diligent search it must be more and more learned and found out and to that end the exposition made in the whole Discourse of this Treatise will be helpfull and giue men some light how they from henceforth may iudge and discerne of the order of Gods workes wrought among the Children of men and be more and more comforted therein ⸪ CHAP. XVII Of the diligent obseruation of all Gods workes among the Children of men needfull for the drawing of spirituall profit out of Gods workes among vs. THe second thing that is needfull and requisite hereunto that out of Gods works done among the Children of men we may more more learne the feare of God and godlinesse is that we should narrowly marke consider of all such his works If any man though well seene and learned in that which God himselfe witnesseth vnto vs in his word that he intendeth to doe among the Children of men touching the gouerning of the world should withdraw himselfe like an Hermite into some solitary place of this world where hee â—ould see no man nor haue the company of any or should shut himselfe vp whole dayes weekes and moneths in his studie still poaring vpon his Books or if he were so continually taken vp with the cares of this world that with blind eyes hee should looke into that which is done and hapneth in the world among the sonnes of men such a man notwithstanding all the knowledge that he could haue of Gods word could draw no fruit nor comfort out of the workes of God done among the Children of men It is necessary therefore for men narrowly to marke what is done and hapneth in the place where they dwell and abide as namely how it fareth with the good and the bad as well in generall as in particular when they are sound in the way of righteousnesse or wickednesse as they are in prosperitie or aduersitie how both the one and the other behaue themselues therein and how they liue what they doe what their vprising going forth and proceedings are all this men must warily and narrowly note in the places where they liue as also the condition conuersation employments blessings punishments sicknesses diseases death and ends of the Children of men and consider thereof for there is no working no proceeding nor any thing that is done in this life touching prosperity or aduersity from the which a Christian man like a Bee may not draw some good fruit That man therefore that hath any iudgement must note and marke all things in such manner that from day to day hee may bee more and more instructed and become wiser and to that end the Psalmist sayth That it is a wise mans worke to make all these things that he may vnderstand the louing kindnesse of the Lord Psal 107. 43. And Salomon sheweth vs that it was his practise to consider all things euen vnto the field of the slothfull and to that end sayth I went by the field of the slothfull and by the vineyard of the man voyde of vnderstanding and loe it was all growne ouer with thornes and nettles had couered the face thereof and the stone wall thereof was broken downe then I saw and considered it well I looked vpon it and receiued instruction Pro. 24. 30. 31. 32. But especially it concerneth a Christian narrowly to note and marke Gods proceedings and dealings with and concerning himselfe and how it fareth with him in the course of his life whether hee followeth Gods will and Commandements or is carelesse thereof And we must euery one of vs particularly consider how ioyfull and good a thing it is to behold a childe of God haunt Gods house to be released and freed from the dulnesse of his peruerse nature and from the gouernment of sinne and Sathan to be shrowded vnder Gods wings and to haue him for his protection and defence and how gratiously he then dealeth with vs when we so doe preserueth vs from a thousand burdens of heauie and grieuous sinnes whereunto otherwise we were wholly addicted and would easily haue fallen into how comfortably he maketh vs to grow vp and encrease in knowledge and grace for the more assurance of his fauour towardes vs and of our eternall saluation And wee must yet narrowly and specially marke and consider on the one side What blessing what comfort and what peace wee haue found for our soules in all occurrents of prosperitie or aduersitie as long as wee serued God and that our hearts were not turned backe neither did our stepps decline from his way Psal 44. 18. Ier. 6. 16. And on the other side into what troubles griefes perplexities disquietnesse of Conscience distrust and feares we haue fallen when by any temptations we fell from the Lord our God and how after our fall when wee truely considered the same and humbled our selues before the Lord our God and againe turned vnto him with true repentance with all our hearts and a true desire to serue him we were againe by him receiued into grace and restored into our former blessed and comfortable state as the same is at large notably set downe vnto vs in the story of the prodigall child Thus euery one of vs must particularly enter into the Closet of his owne Conscience and well narrowly marke in what proceedings we haue beene best furthered and thrust forward to a spirituall life which is the speciall marke that wee should ayme at and what comfort we haue thereby receiued and therein found for our soules that we may with the Church of God say when wee haue forsaken our God and gone astray I will goe and returne to my first husband againe for then it was better with me then now Hos 2. 7. CHAP. XVIII How we must compare that which God doth in this world with that which hee hath set downe in his word that we may draw some good fruit from the workes of God for our comfort THe third thing that is needfull hereunto that out of the workes of GOD done among the Children of men we may know the truth of God set downe in his word for our comfort and consolation is that we collect and gather together whatsoeuer by diligent searching into the word of God and narrowly marking of Gods workes touching Gods proceedings and dealings with
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