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
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
thereby to reape a good haruest thereof should himselfe vse no wisedome in the framing of his Children to make them fruitfull Esa 28. 23. 24. But on the contrary although wee cannot conceiue the depth of the wonderfull wayes of God towards the sonnes of men yet we must hold this for a generall rule that all the workes of God are done in truth and righteousnesse Psal 1â—1 8. and that our God is the rocke his worke is perfect that all his wayes are Iudgement a God of truth and without iniquitie iust and right he is and that they haue corrupted themselues and it is a blot to them that they are not his Children but are a peruerse and crooked generation that turne away from him for any cause whatsoeuer a foolish and vnwise Deut. 32. 4. 5. and therefore when any such difficulties enter into our mindes if we will conceiue aright thereof we must not forget the Lord nor deale falsely in his couenant we must not turne our harts from him nor our stepps from his wayes Psal 44. 17. 18. And in all these actions and proceedings how strange and wonderfull soeuer they seeme vnto vs we must be dumb and not open our mouth because it is God that doth it Psal 39. 10. CHAP. V. That notwithstanding that Gods workes done and wrought among the Children of men are so wonderfull and vncomprehensible yet we may learne and find out many speciall things reape much benefit by his said works so wrought and done among them AS it is a most godly and holy thing and very commendable for men in all accidents that happen here on earth among the Children of men to note the finger of God to bee therein and to ascribe the same to Gods powerfull prouidence so we must not slightly refuse or neglect to consider what God the Lord in his wonderfull wisedome hath secretly purposed and intended by this or that course crosse or calamitie that hee bringeth in sundrie wise vpon his chosen people seeing experience teacheth vs that the seuerall things that happen vnto vs during our liues many times produce strange and far other effects then men expect from them It seemed that our case once would haue gone but hardly and would haue beene but sorily supported or countenanced when as long since hee on whom wee then much relied and vnder whose protection wee hoped to rest quietly by a wicked blow was taken from vs And yet neuerthelesse since that time it hath gone with vs better and better We were likewise once perswaded that when such or such of our friends should grow stronger that our affaires would then haue better successe and goe more prosperously forward and yet secretly it fell out otherwise This might moue some men to conceiue and say that seeing it is so with the workes of God that are wrought among the Children of men that his wayes and his proceedings are so strange and vnsearchable how can we then out of Gods workes learne any certaine or speciall thing touching and concerning our owne states and our duties towardes God in his workes whereunto notwithstanding we are so earnestly and oftentimes exhorted and incited in the holy Scriptures Psal 92. 6. 7. Esa 28. 23. 24. Hos 14. Psal 107. Especially seeing it falleth alike with the godly and vngodly man in all their worldly proceedings wherein oftentimes so vnexpected things happen and fall out how can we take occasion thereby to prayse and glorifie the Lord or to humble our selues before him in regard of his extraordinary works as if he had done some speciall thing for vs when as we fare no better then other men commonly do and it is yet vncertaine what will further proceed thereof I answere although instantly by Gods ordinary or extraordinary workes wee cannot conceiue Gods fauour and affection towardes men nor mans state in regard of God thereby to take occasion specially for the same to prayse the Lord our God and to seeke after him notwithstanding when we once well know perceiue mans state in regard of God and our owne or any other mens speciall state in that kind wee may by the ordinary workes of God here done amongst men learne and conceiue many good things as for example when we know a man to be one that truely feareth God and yet see that notwithstanding many crosses and troubles befall him and happen to him in this life we may thereby learne That God the righteous Iudge of all the world findeth cause matter enough when it pleaseth him To try the best men that liue here on earth by laying great tribulations vpon them and by many miseries to proue their patience Iob 4 Whereby also we are further admonished That although we are commanded to liue holily and as much as in vs lyeth to seeke to doe the same yet that we must not perswade our selues that all things therefore here on earth shall fall out well prosperously with vs according to our desires but rather must make our account that neuerthelesse many tribulations and crosses may fall vpon vs here in this world and thereupon prepare and arme our selues patiently to endure them But that we may the better perceiue and vnderstand how to reape much profit by Gods workes done among the Children of men we must know that although they are things that are vnsearchable by men to conceiue why God dealeth so diuersly with one vngodly man in respect of another vngodly man that is like vnto him that the one fareth cleane contrary to the other as for example giuing the one vngodly man much wealth and prosperitie and laying much aduersitie and many plagues vpon the other as also why God imposeth as much and the very same on a righteous man that he doth on an vngodly man and maketh no difference in outward shew betweene them therein giuing both the one and the other eyther wealth or pouertie at his good will and pleasure yet we may by the word of God find out and know why God doth so vnto them or to any other man that is godly or vngodly For the Lord our God that is a wise God hath opened many things vnto vs in his Word concerning his will dealings with the Children of men which if we marke and well consider the same wee shall learne many things touching the ordinary workings of God among men whereof in the next Chapter I will make a further declaration out of the same Word CHAP. VI. Shewing diuers seuerall things which the Lord hath opened vnto vs in his Word touching his good pleasure and dealings with the Children of men here on earth necessary to put out of our mindes all doubts concerning the workes of God and to strengthen them in the contrary effects FIrst and before all other things God in his word openeth vnto vs That he loueth men freely as they are men Titus 3. 4. Which he witnesseth that he doth by being the Sauiour of all men 1 Tym. 4. 10. Therefore also the
and abound in wealth This many men cannot brooke while they are perswaded that it standeth not with the great Maiestie of the God-head and the Iustice of God to deale in such manner and the reason is because they looke vpon nothing but the outward shew and consider not the end for which God doth it for if in the lest degree they did but thinke and remember that God meaneth well to the godly and that their oppressions are wholesome medicines for their soules the better to prepare them for the life to come And on the contrarie that the prosperitie of the vngodly is like the Qualeâ— to the children of Israel that died while they were in their mouthes then they would presently see and perceiue that they haue no cause to doubt of or to misconster and stumble at the workes of God For to speake the truth who is he that will longer stumble at or thinke it strange to see that God loseth and slacketh the bridle to the children of the world but tuâ—â—reth holdeth in restraineth instantly and suffereth not his children to haue their wills when hee remembreth that the Lord doth it to his children to the end that they may become the more spirituall and better prepared for the kingdome of heauen doe wee not the like in matters of lesse importance continually in our houses to our children wee suffer our dogs that weâ— breed in our houses to runne at libertie loose and vntied and haue no regard what they doe nor how it fareth with them but is it not our manner to looke narrowly to our children to keepe them short to teach and instruct them and why doe we so but onely to bring them vp to all vertuous actions and for their better preferment So that it is to a speciall end that wee haue so great a care of our children which in no wise wee doe intend to our dogges but let them runne where they list The word of God therefore aduiseth vs to cast off all doubts and feares touching the workes of God and to rid vs thereof willeth vs not to looke onely vpon the outward end of the children of men and to consider of nothing else but the course of this present world euen as the state of the rich glutton and of poore Lazarus is set downe and declared vnto vs by Iesus Christ himselfe Luk. 16. So the Apostle Saint Paul warneth vs saying Remember those that haue the rule ouer you who haue spoken vnto you the word of God whose faith follow considering the end of their conuersation Heb. 13. 7. And to the same end Saint Iames sayth Behold wee count them happy which indure you haue heard of the patience of Iob and haue seene the end of the Lord for the Lord is very pittifull and of tender mercy Iames 5. 11. Touching the prosperity of the vngodly who would be grieued thereat when wee marke and thinke vpon their endes they stand vpon slipperie ground and soone fall downe and then comes in the hard and heauie reckonings which they must make at the latter day see the 49. Psalme What is hee that grudgeth at the good that men doe to those that are condemned to die or at the friendship that is shewed vnto them by some when they are led to execution to be broken on wheeles or who would not chuse to passe thorough a troublesome and durtie way to inioy a great inheritance then thorough a faire and pleasant way to goe to execution doe not many honest housholders dislike of swaggering companions that dayly and hourely haunt the best Innes and Tauernes in the Citie and consume their wealth in banket after banket as long as their credits last and doe they not thinke them men of little wisedome or consideration and is it not found to bee so when they make vp their reckonings at home in their houses So it stands with the prosperitie of the vngodly many times here in this world they haue great wealth and abundance but they spend vpon their owne stockes and a hard reckoning followeth after it whereas on the contrary godly men that in this world are kept short and spend vpon their fathers purse whether it be superfluously or otherwise as their father thinkes it good haue no feare of an after reckoning all is freely forgiuen them Thus their ends differ much one from another This when the Psalmist considered although before touching this point of the workes of God how the vngodly prosper and the godly liue poore and miserably hee was somewhat troubled and muttred thereat yet at last hee was perswaded as hee himselfe witnesseth saying When I thought to know this it was too painefull for mee vntill I went into the Sanctuary of God then vnderstood I their end Psalm 73. 16. 17. CHAP. VIII That there is no cause why men should bee so much abashed when they shall consider how the enemies of Gods people when they incounter in battaile with the people of GOD and haue the vpper hand and ouerthrow them YET this is not all that which causeth greatest dislike in the hearts of many men touching the workes of God done among the sonnes of men the chiefest reason consisteth herein that men oftentimes see and behold that not onely many vngodly men liue in great prosperitie and many righteous men in great miserie but that men see and obserue that the vngodly oftentimes oppresse the godly and that when Gods people and their enemies encounter in battaile and fight together many times their enemies haue the victorie and ouercome them This is the point that produceth greatest difficultie and many men cannot be resolued how it should come to passe that the seruantes of the most high God that haue his cause in hand that are iealous of his glory and fight for his truth should be ouercome by those that are Gods enemies that Gods cause should turne the backe and falshood and deceit haue the vpper hand this by many men cannot be conceiued nor considered as it should bee for that as things are brought to passe they see nothing but contrary effects The vngodly are hardened in their vngodlinesse and the godly weepe and mourne all thinges are worse and worse and the name of the Lord by this meanes slandred and euill spoken of and his truth blamed I answer we must needes confesse and acknowledge that these are most profound wayes of God but the Lord also in his holy word hath giuen vs to vnderstand what the meaning is of these his most wonderfull workes and telleth vs that he hath reason so to doe both in respect of the godly and the vngodly and of his people and their enemies and first giueth vs to vnderstand that in these occurrents hee is patient and long suffering Luk. 18. 7. That he is not so hastie as wee are Psal 116. 11. Hee can indure that his cause and his peoples cause should sometime bee hindred and that the vngodly should domineire as if Baal or Asâ—aroth and not the
God of Israel ruled and gouerned the world and teacheth vs further that he suffereth it so to bee thereby the more to aduance his honour when hee once begins so to rise vp that his enemies are driuen backe and that he lifteth vp againe the heads of his people which before were deiected and cast downe Thus he witnesseth that for the same cause he suffereth his people of Israell to be humbled that afterward he might aduance them and that so all the world might see that it was neither their policie wisedome nor power but his blessings that had releiued and raysed them vp Deut 8. 9. Here what the Lord to this end sayth by the Prophet The earth mourneth and languisheth Lebanon is ashamed and hewen downe Sharon is like a wildernesse and Basan and Carmell shake off their fruits now will I rise sayth the Lord seeing my people are so much confounded and euery man thinketh that they are wholy ouerthrowne now will I be exalted now will I lift vp my selfe Esa 33. 9. 10. I haue a long time houlden my peace sayth he I haue beene still and refrayned my selfe now will I cry like a trauelling woman I will destroy and deuoure at once Esa 42. 14. the enemies of my people This is Gods purpose when he suffereth his people for a time to be ouer-run and mastred by their enemies which if we consider well we will no longer bee abashed thereat nor stumble at Gods workes though things goe neuer so crosse for a time with Gods owne people and that the enemies of the Gospell thereby seeme to growe strong When we reade of the prosperitie of Hammon the cruell and sworne enemy of Gods people and vnderstand that he proceeded so farre that all the people of Israell were iudged to die and that hee being their greatest and bitterest enemie had the execution thereof committed to him would not men therby conclude looking vpon the outward vntoward proceedings that the Lord had abandoned and forsaken his people of Israell yet we know in the end that the higher that Hammon the enemie of Gods people did clime the neerer the destruction of the Children of Israell seemed to be and the more the enemies of Gods people being disappointed of their purposes were confounded the more honor the Lord did then reap vnto himselfe by the deliuerance of his people So wonderfull is God the Lord in his workes wherby it appeareth that euen then when he suffereth the cause of his people in a manner to fall vnto the ground he still houldeth the rudder in his hand and hath an eye on them and a care that they shall not altogether be ouerthrowne And so all the mis-vnderstanding wrong iudging mis-construing stumblings at Gods workes consists herein that we onely looke vpon exterior things and neuer remember to goe into the Sanctuary of God to looke into the end of his wayes and what his secret meaning is therein Marke what I say Queene Ester that was a great friend to the people of God and sought what meanes she could to deliuer the people of Israell from that danger and to bring Hammon to confusion what course did shee take Shee inuited the King and Hammon with him to be her guests shee receiued and intertained him friendly and Hammon could perceiue no other but that he was very welcome to the Queene and boasted thereof to his friends And yet that was not enough Hester bad him to be her guest the second time and shewed him a fayre countenance from time to time Now what might the Iewes that knew not Queene Hesters meaning haue conceiued and iudged hereof might not they haue thought that Hester also consented with Hammon to helpe to root out and confound the Iewes But the meaning was cleane contrary shee sought to bring Hammon to confusion and to deliuer the Iewes from death the issue thereof sheweth it plainely Hest 5. 7. Thus the Lord our God many times worketh with the enemies of his people hee seemeth for a while to draw them on and to leaue his owne people to make them the more confounded and ashamed when vnexpectedly hee ouerthroweth them and deliuereth his people from them Touching these wayes of God therefore wee must attend Gods pleasure and in the meane time patiently expect his leisure And this God declareth vnto vs in his Word touching his strange workings aforesayd which to men seeme so offensiue yea which is more our good God sheweth vs yet more speciall and waightier causes wherefore at sometimes he suffereth his owne people to be oppressed by their enemies and letteth them fall into great miseries and troubles whereof some conceiue the enemies of Gods people others Gods people themselues Touching his owne people somtimes he suffereth them to fall into the hands of their enemies and by that meanes ladeth them with a heauie yoake because they did not endeuour themselues wisely and as it became them to beare his Fatherly yoake on their necks Heare what the Lord to that end sayth to his people Because that thou seruest not the Lord thy God with ioyfulnesse and with gladnesse of heart for the aboundance of all things therefore shalt thou serue thine enemies which the Lord shall send against thee in hunger and in thirst and in nakednesse and in want of all things and he shall put a yoake of iron vpon thy necke and all this the Lord doth as hee himselfe also witnesseth that his people might know what difference there is betweene seruing of him and seruing the Kingdomes of his enemies 2 Chro. 12. 8. Therefore for that his people by the subtiltie of Sathan the temptations of the world imbecilitie and carelesnesse sometimes esteeme not of the sweete yoake of Christ and calme running water of Shilo as they should doe the Lord layeth a heauie yoake vpon them and bringeth them into deepe and many waters of oppression wherein what strange thing doth the Lord What doth he I say that should moue men in any manner to dislike When we vse to do the same and thinke and perswade our selues that we doe wisely with our owne Children that sometimes wee put to hard Schoole-maisters and cruell teachers for a tyme that they might learne and know how easie a yoake they beare on their shoulders in their Fathers houses which yet when we doe it is out of meere loue and for the good and profit of our Children On the other side touching the enemies of Gods people although then they seeme specially to bee happie and blessed when in that manner they get the vpper hand of Gods people and deuoure them like bread yet the truth is that no greater plague can happen vnto them then when they are permitted to oppresse and wrong the people of God and to wash their hands in their bloud which the Lord in his great wrath sometimes permitteth to be done when hee determineth to suffer them to fill vp the measure of their wickednesse and to hasten their Iudgement and vtter destruction
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
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