The Balance of the Sanctuary, Treatise · Chapter 16
CHAP. XVI. Of the diſtinct knowledge of theſe things which God in his word (touching the gouernement of this world) hath manifeſted vntounto vsus, 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 vntounto vsus 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 vntounto vsus, they muſt of force erre when they take▪ vponupon 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 hauehave 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 eueryevery 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 vsus, 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 hauehave 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 vsus, being that which ſetteth downe vntounto vsus, the ſtate of our euerlaſting ſaluation, or condemnation, and how wee muſt heere on earth behaue our ſelues vnderunder 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 hauehave beene ſlow and careleſſe of making diligent ſearch into the Bible, which is the Booke that God himſelfe, that made vsus all, hath made; let vsus with all ſpeede amend that fault all of vsus▪ 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 vntounto vsus 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 giuegive 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. ⸪