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
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
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
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
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