Consolations for the Afflicted, Book 2 · Chapter 7
CHAP. VII.
That all our afflictions are ruled and disposed by Gods most wise, iust and gracious prouidence, and of the comfort which ariseth from this consideration.
AND thus hauehave I shewed that the Lord is the§ Sect. 1. That God by his prouidence gouerneth all his creatures, and especially man, so as nothing happeneth vntounto him but by his appointment. principall and cheefe author of our afflictions, both as hee doth ordaine vsus vntounto them; and also as hee hath the cheefe hand in executing this decree. But besides both these, the Lord is the cheefe author and agent in all our afflictions, as he doth by his wise and powerfull prouidence rule and dispose of them, maugre the malice and might of all our enemies, so as they shall all turne to his own glory, and our spiritual & euerlasting good. Neither are we fondly to imagine that the Lord created his creatures, and then left them to the ordering and ruling either of thēselues, or vntounto fate, chance and blinde fortune; but he doth by the same wisdome and power gouerne and dispose them according to his owne good pleasure; so that howsoeuer they oftentimes transgresse and violate his will reuealed; yet they neuer crosse or hinder his secret will and counsaile, but in all things, notwithstanding their malice and opposition, he maketh them serue his prouidence, directing them vntounto those ends for which they were created. Nor doth the Lord onelyonly thus rule his cheefest creatures, or those which are inferiour, at some times, or vponupon some waighty occasions, but this all-seeing and all-ruling prouidence of God, doth extend it selfe to the ruling and gouerning of the meanest, euen of the seelie sparrowes, yea of a worthlesse haire, so as without his direction and appointment they cannot light or fall vponupon the ground, as our Sauiour speaketh. From which consideration ariseth singular comfort vntounto all the faithfull; for if nothing befalleth the most contemptible creatures, but by the wise guidance and appointment of their creatour; then how much lesse vntounto men (the noblest peece of this worldly workmanship) who are worth many thousands of them, yea vntounto his faithfull seruants and children, who exceed in his valuation many thousands of other men? and this is that argument of consolation which our Sauiour vseth to comfort his disciples, and to arme their patience against those persecutions, crosses and calamities, which should afterwards betide them for the profession of his name. Are not two sparrowes (saith hee) sould for a farthing, and one of them shall not fall to the ground without your Math. 10. 29. 30 31.Father, yea and all the haires of your head are numbred. Feare ye not therefore, ye are of more value then many sparrowes. But as Gods prouidence doth extend it selfe in more especiall manner vntounto the faithfull aboue all other men, so aboue all other times, in the time of their afflictions, according to hisPsalm. 91. 15. gracious promise; he shall call vponupon mee, and I will heare him, I will be with him in trouble; I will deliuer him and glorifie him. And thus the Lord taketh speciall knowledge of the afflictions of his people that he might deliuer them; I hauehave surelie seene (saith he) the trouble of my people which are in Egypt, Exod. 3. 7. Lamen. 3. 59. 60and hauehave heard their crie because of their taske-masters; for I know their sorrows; therefore I am come downe to deliuer them. With which meditation the afflicted Church comforteth her selfe in all her troubles and miseries: O Lord (saith shee) thou hast seene my wrong, iudge thou my cause. Thou hast seene all their vengeance, and all their deuises against me, &c.
Yea the Lord doth in his wise prouidence, not only look§ Sect. 2. That Gods prouidence doth rule all the inferiour ca…es of our afflictions; and first such as are vnreason… ble. vntounto, rule and dispose of the afflictions themselues which befall the faithfull, but of all the causes and circumstances, their ends and issues, manner, measure▪ and time of their continuance. For as for the causes of all afflictions, they are all subordinate vntounto him who is the supreame and principall cause, and serue but as inferiour meanes and instruments to effect his will and pleasure. For the better vnderstanding wherof, we are to know; that there is in nature a concatenation, inter-linking and chaining of causes together, whereby inferiour causes are so subordinate one to another, as that they all holde their subordination vntounto God, who is the first and principall cause; whereof it commeth to passe, that as one of them cannot worke and mooue without the helpe of the next cause vntounto which it is subordinate, as for example, fruits cannot nourish vsus, vnlesse the earth nourish them neither can the earth bring them forth, vnlesse the Sunne shine and the raine fall vponupon them: so none of them can mooue or worke, but by that vertue which they receiue from God, the first and cheefe cause, whereby they are inabled to produce all their actions and operations. In regard whereof all the effects and actions of secondary causes (beeing considered simplye in themselues without their poyson and malignitie of sinne) are not so properly the effects of them, as of that cause which is first and principall. As for example wee cannot so properly say, that our meate doth nourish vsus, or clothes keepe vsus warme, or that the sunne doth lighten vsus, or our friends prouide for vsus; as that God doth all these things by them, namely as the chiefe cause working by his instruments. And although these effects be properly and fitly attributed to their next and immediate causes; yet more fitly and properly may wee say, that God doth by them nourish, warme, lighten and prouide for vsus, seeing from him alone they hauehave all their vertue and efficacy, without which they could doe nothing. For as the Scribe is more properly saide to write, then the Pen, and he that maketh and keepeth the clocke is more properly said to make it goe and strike, then the wheeles and peyzes that hang vponupon it, and eueryevery workman to effect his worke, rather then the tooles which hee vseth, as his instruments: So the Lord who is the cheefe agent and first mouer in all actions, may more fitly and properly be said to effect and to bring to passe all things which are done in the earth, then any inferiour or subordinate causes, seeing they are all but his tooles and instruments, which cannot moue of themselues, but as they are ruled and guided by the power and prouidence of this heauenly workeman. And thus the Lord vseth all his creatures both vnreasonable and reasonable to serue his prouidence in the afflicting and chastizing of his children. Of the former sort the examples are innumerable like vntounto the huge hoast of the creatures themselues; for thus the Lord vseth the fire and water, the infection of the ayre, the barrennes of the earth, the winds and weather, raine, drought, frosts and mildeawes; the wild and bruite creatures; and that not onelyonly the sauage beasts which excell in strength, and are armed by nature to doe hurt; but euen the selie flyes, grashoppers, cankerwormes, and caterpillers as the Lord threatneth, and the Prophet Ioel sheweth. In which regard, howsoeuer these crosses inflictedDeut. 28. Ioel. 1. by these vnreasonable creatures a…e of all others most vncomfortable, because▪ as it is said of fire and water, so may it of the rest, that they hauehave no mercy, seeing their fury is not mitigated by yeelding, their pitty not moued by complaining, nor their destroying force stayed by our intreating and perswading; yet in this hauehave the faithfull sufficient consolation, when they consider, that these no lesse then the other are God instruments for the effecting of his will, and but as rods in the hand of our heauenly Father, which are content (as it were) to be tawed and torne in pecces in vexing and tormenting vsus, if it be the pleasure of him that made and ruleth them; but yet cannot of themselues giuegive vsus one blow or stripe, but as they are moued by Gods wil and power, as wee may see in the preseruation of the Israelites from the plagues of Aegypt, and from being ouerwhelmed by the mercilesse Sea; in the preseruing of the three children in the§. Sect. 3. That Gods prouidence doth rule the inferiour causes which are reasonable, and first the good and euill Angells. fiery furnace, Daniell in the Lions den, and of Paul from the mortall sting of the cruell viper.
The like also may bee saide of the reasonable creatures, which howsoeuer they may seeme at their owne will and pleasure to afflict and punish vsus; yet is both their will and power so ouerruled, limitted and ouermastered, by the allgouerning power and prouidence of God, that they cannot goe one foot beyond their tether, but when they are come to the vtmost bounds of their permitted liberty, there, will they▪ nill they, they must make a stand, and howsoeuer they may fling and kicke to shew their will and malice, yet their power is so curbed and restrained, that they cannot beyond their allowed limits doe vsus any harme. And thus the Lord ruleth as his instruments in o…r afflictions both Angells and men; and that both good and bad. For howsoeuer the good and holy Angels are Gods willing ministers, to watch ouer and guard the faithfull in all dangers, and his ready messengers to conueigh vntounto them his blessings and benefits; yet when the Lord their master and commander is pleased to vse them as his instruments in afflicting & correcting them, they are prest to doe his will. Howbeit they hauehave their commission which they must obserue, their time appointed when to begin, and when to make an ende, and the very number and measure of their blowes that they are to giuegive, which they neither can nor will exceed. An example whereof wee hauehave in the destroying Angell smiting the Israelites with2. Sam. 24. the plague and pestilence; who continued the execution of Gods iudgements til the Lord restrained him, but no sooner doth the Lord c…mmād him to cease, but presently he sheatheth his sword of vengeance, and desisteth from doing any further harm. So the Lord intending to plague Ierusalem by the ministery of an Angell, first giueth commission to another Angell that he should set a marke vponupon the foreheads of them that did mourne, and crye for all the abominations that were done in the middest therof; and then biddeth the destroying Angell to goe through the Citie and smite, neyther sparing nor pittying any, olde or yong, maids or children,Ezech. 9. 4. 5. 6. but with all chargeth him not so much as to touch a man, who by his marke was exempted from the common calamity and destruction. And thus the fower Angels who had power giuen them to hurt the earth and the Sea, are restrained from the execution of their commission, till the seruantsApoc. 7. 3. of God were marked in their foreheads. Neither doth the Lord thus order and dispose by his wise and powerfull prouidence the good Angels onelyonly, who being his seruants take their cheefe delight in doing his will; but also hee doth often vse, & by the same wise prouidence dispose of, the wicked Angels and Diuels, as his instruments for the afflicting of his faithfull children. And when they thinke of nothing lesse then of doing his will, glorifying his name, or doing good to his Saints and seruants; but contrariwise wholy ayme at Gods dishonour and their destruction: euen then he ouerruleth them by his powerfull prouidence, & maketh them (maugre their malice) to effect his will, and to serue him vntounto those ends for which he imployeth them. In which respect one well saith, yt though the wil of Sathan be alwaies wicked, yet his power is neuer vniust, because hee hath his will from himselfe, but his power from God, and therefore what he vnlawfully affecteth to doe, that God will not suffer to bee done but iustly and lawfully. And this is the cause why the spirit which vexed Saul is called the euill spirit, and ye Spirit of the Lord; namely the spirit of the Lord in respect of that iust power which was granted vntounto him by God; and the euill spirit in regard of the desire of his vniust and malitious will. And thus he vsed Satan in afflicting Iob for the trial of his patience, that it might be crowned with the greater glory; when as the Deuill aimed at nothing lesse, but onelyonly sought to cause Iob by these afflictions to blaspheme God vntounto his face. And thus he gaue him from time to time his commission which he could not passe. And so the Lord telleth the Angell of the Church of the Smyrnians, that theApoc. 2. 10. Deuill should cast some of them into prison; but willeth them to be of good comfort because it was not at his owne pleasure, but at Gods appointment, who foretold them of these afflictions; not as long as he list but only for ten daies, which was the time limited by God: not that hee might heereby attaine vntounto his owne malitious ende, which was that they might bee destroyed, but that hee might further and aduance Gods end, namely that beeing tryed and found faithfull they might obtaine the crowne of life. And therefore howsoeuer there can bee nothing more terrible and fearefull then to know that Sathan who hath beene a murtherer from the beginning, and an ancient enemy of mankinde, exceeding vsus so much in power, and hauing his power so much exceeded by his malice, should bee the next and immediate cause of our afflictions; yet when wee consider with all, that he is but a bare instrument in the hand of God, which by his power and prouidence hee turneth and windeth at his good pleasure; and alwaies forceth him, whether he wil or no, to serue for the aduancing of his own glory, & the spirituall good & euerlasting saluation of his elect, there is in this meditation sufficient cause to expell all feare and horror, and matter enough of patience & consolation.§ Sect. 4. That Gods prouidence ouerruleth the actions and intentions of wicked men: and of the comforts which aris… from this consideratiō.
Finally the Lord thus ruleth and ouerruleth all the intentions and actions of wicked men, when he vseth them as his instruments for the afflicting of his seruants; so as they cannot begin to hurt them but by his permission; nor continue to vexe & mol…st them longer then the appointed time. And when they ayme at nothing else but the disgorging of their spite, the inlarging of their rule and soueraignty, and the inriching of themselues with the spoyle; the Lord aymeth at the good of the faithfull, and by these chastisements humbleth them by vnfained repentance, that they may not bee condemned with the world. And thus the Lord vsed the Chaldaeans and Sabaeans as his instruments for the afflicting of Iob, Saul, Shemei and Absalon, for the chastizing of Dauid; Nabuchadnezer, the Babilonians and Assyrians, for the correcting of his people Israell. In which regard hee calleth him his seruant whom he had appointed to this worke; and affirmeth that he was but as a rod in his hand, wherewith he did visit their sinnes, and execute his righteous iudgements. O Ashur (saith he) the rod of my wrath: and the staffe in their hands is mine indignation; I will send him to a dissembling nation, and I will giuegive him a charge against …he people of my wrath Esa. 10. 5 6.to take the spoile, and to take the pray, and to tread them vnderunder feete like the mire in the street. And not to insist vponupon more examples; thus he vsed the Scribes, Priests and Pharisies, Iudas, Caiphas and Pilate, for the afflicting and killing of his only sonne, that his death might be the price of our redemption: In which respect our Sauiour is called the Lamb slaine from the beginning of the world, namely, in Gods, eternall decree and purpose; and the Apostle Peter plainly affirmeth, that he was deliuered into their hands by the determinate counsell and foreknowledge of God to bee crucified and slaine. And howsoeuer these wicked instruments whichActs. 2. 23. the Lord vseth for the chastising of his seruants, ayme at nothing lesse then the effecting of his will and aduancing of their good; yet doth he by his wise prouidence alwaies so ouerrule them, that they serue for these purposes; & though they intend their ruine and euen thirst for their destruction; yet when they hauehave, as Gods instruments effected his worke he curbeth & restraineth their power and malice, so as they cannot goe one iot further then hee hath appointed them. Though at all times they are alike set vponupon mischiefe, and continually vponupon all occasions breath out their malice and reuenge; yet onelyonly then they hauehave power to touch the children of God, when hee permitteth them for his owne gloryGen. 31. 29. and their good. As wee may see in the example of Laban, who implicitely confesseth that he pursued Iacob to do him mischiefe, but could not because God by a dreame had forbidden him. In Senacherib, who came purposely to destroy Ierusalem, but could not effect his will, because the Lord putEsa. 37. 29. his hooke in his nosethrils, and led him backe from whence hee came. In Saul, who oftentimes practised to take away Dauids life, yet was neuer able, not that he wanted worldly power to effect his will, but because the Lord ouerruled him by his prouidence, so as hee could not hurt him. By all which and innumerable other examples it appeareth that wicked men are but the Lords instruments, who correct his children when hee pleaseth, but cannot so much as touch them till he permitteth them. And with this argument the Lord by vision encourageth Paul to the worke of the ministrie, Feare not (saith he) but speake and holde not thy peace; Act. 18. 9. 10.for I am with thee, and no man shall lay hands on thee to hurt thee. The consideration whereof serueth for the singular consolation of the faithfull in their affliction; for when (as it vsually commeth to passe) they are more vexed with the sight of their enemies pride, tyrannie and cruell insolencie, then with the sense of the euils which they suffer from them; and are more troubled and frighted with the apprehension of those dangerous effects, which their malicious rage may produce for the time to come; then with all their miseries either past or present; then they are to remember, that these wicked men can doe nothing by their owne absolute will and power; but that they are wholy at Gods disposition, as beeing inferiour instruments of this supreame and cheefe cause, by whom he correcteth them, not according to their malicious lusts, to their ruine and destruction; but according to his owne wise and iudicious pleasure, for their spirituall good, and the eternall saluation of their soules. Then they must call to minde that these impious worldlings are but the slaues and seruants of our heauenly father, whom he hath appointed to correct vsus for our faults; & although they much maligne and be at enimitie with vsus; yet wee shall receiue no hurt hereby; seeing our gracious father standeth by and wil not suffer them to torment vsus at their owne wils, but appointeth the number of stripes, and the measure of our correction, which notwithstanding all their malice, they cannot exceede, nor enlarge their crueltie aboue that which is permitted vntounto them.
Yea but why doth not the Lord correct his seruants rather§ Sect. 5. Why God rather vseth these wicked instruments, then correcteth vsus by his owne hand. by his owne hand, then by the hand of a stranger, or an enemie? And why doth hee not let his chast…zements come purely from himselfe, or by the meanes of innocent creatures, or righteous men, executing his iust iudgments by iust instruments, rather then by wicked and vngodly men? who infuse into them the poyson of their maliciousnesse, embitter them with their gaule and spleen, and pollute and defile them with their corruption? To which I answere; that the execution of punishment in it selfe, being a seruile thing, doth not so fitly agree with the nature of God, who beeing the cheefe goodnesse, taketh his cheefe delight in doing good, & in communicating himselfe vntounto his creatures; neither doth hee willingly punish vsus, but that wee inforce it vponupon his iustice by our sins; whereof it is, that when the Lord doth execute his iudgments, he is said by his Prophet, to doe his strange worke, and his strange act. And therefore,Esay 28. 21. because it is not familiar and delightfull vntounto his nature, hee doth it not by himselfe, but commonly allotteth it to the Diuell and wicked men, who are the fittest to be his executioners, as beeing naturally disposed to hurt and destroy. Euen as among men it is an vsuall thing for the righteous Iudge to vse wicked and base wretches, for the executing of his iust sentence vponupon malefactors, who hauehave deserued punishment; with whom notwithstanding he doth not at all communicate in their bloodie cruelty and spitefull malice, which they sometimes exercise towards the persons executed. Neither doth it at all disparage, or any whit detract from Gods iustice and goodnesse, that the wickednes of sinfull and vngodly men is intermixed with the execution of his righteous iudgments; but doth rather magnifie his wisdome and power, in that hee can bring good out of euill, and light out of darknesse; effecting his iust designes by wicked instruments, contrarie to their nature and intention. For as it doth much commend the exquisite skill of the workeman, when as hee can worke curiously with bad tooles; and the arte of the Physitian, who of the flesh of the Viper can make soueraigne methridate, and change this malignant poyson into an holesome preseruatiue and counterpoyson; and as the power and wisdome of so… great commander doth gloriously shyne; when as he cannot only vanquish his enemies; but also make them fight on his own side, and become his instruments of conferring good vponupon his owne souldiers: So what can more magnifie the wisedome, goodnesse and power of God, then that hee should be able to perfect the faire and straight workes of his righteous iudgments, by these crooked and crabbed instrumēts? then to make the viperous generation of wicked men to serue for holesome preseruatiues, which keepe his seruants from the contagious infection of sinne? And so to conquere these enemies of his glory and our saluation with his diuine power, and ouerrule them by his wisdome, as that they shall in despite of all their pride and malice, serue his children for their spirituall vse and benefit; and being themselues wicked and euill helpe to aduance them to a higherMelius iudicauit de malis bona facere, quam mala nulla permittere. August. degree of grace and goodnesse? And this is one cause why the Lord thinketh it fitter to serue his owne prouidence of wicked men, that he may bring good out of euill, then not to permit any euill at all.
And vntounto this wee may adde, that as the Lord by vsing§. Sect. 6. That God by vsing these wicked instruments, maketh way for the manifestatiō of his iustice in their destructiō, when there is no further vse of them. these wicked instruments for the chastizing of his children, doth manifest his mercy and goodnesse, in making them serue for the aduancement of their good; so doth hee make way for the manifestation of his iustice, whilest hee giueth these wicked men vp to the exercising of their owne malicious and cruell lusts in the chastizements of his seruants, whom they vniustly hate and maligne; that so hee may after he hath punished one sinne with another, make way for deserued vengeance, and take occasion iustly to increase their punishments in this life, and their more fearefull condemnation in the life to come. For as the wise and louing father hauing reformed his childe by correction, and made him respectiue and carefull in the performance of all god duties; doth to giuegive him contentment, and assurance of his louelove and clemencie, vponupon the continuance of his good courses, cast the worne rod which is past vse into the middest of the fire: So doth the Lord cast these wicked instruments; which are (as he calleth them) the rodds of his wrath, into the fire of destruction, when hee hath no further vse of them for the chastizement of his children, that so they may the more securely reioyce in the assurance of the louelove of their heauenly father, and in the ruine and ouerthrowe of his and their enemies. So the Lord threatneth that when he had accomplished all his worke vponupon mount Sion and Ierusalem, hee would visite the fruite of the proude heart of the king of Ashur, and his Esa. 10. 12. 16.glorious and proude lookes, sending among his fat men leannesse, and kindling vnderunder his glory a burning, like the burning of fire. The like iudgement is denounced against proud Babylon, that because when ye Lord being wrath with his people▪ did pollute his inheritance, and giuegive thē into their hand, she did shew no mercy vntounto them, but did lay her very heauie yoke vponupon the ancient, therefore he would bring vponupon her suddenly in one day, the losse of children and widowhood, that is, desolation, and shamefull dishonour. And thus the Lord professeth, that he was greatly angry with the carelesse heathen, Esa. 47. 6. 9. Zach. 1. 15.in that when he was angrie with his people but a little, they helped forward the affliction.
Yea but how can the Lord in iustice so seuerely punish§ Sect. 7. How it will stād with Gods iustice to punishe wicked men, for hauing beene his instruments in executing his iudgments. wicked men for afflicting of his children, seeing they are but his instruments, which hauehave done that onelyonly which hee appointed them? I answere, that this serueth nothing for their excuse, nor doth any thing at all extenuate their faultinesse; for howsoeuer they in afflicting Gods seruants doe the secret will of God, which no creature in heauen or earth is able to withstand; this maketh nothing for them, seeing this hidden will was neuer propounded as a rule vntounto which they should conforme their actions: but the Lord hath giuen vntounto vsus the knowledge of his will reuealed in his word, vntounto which hee requireth conformitie and obedience. And by this they are enioyned to louelove the faithfull aboue all others, and by all good meanes to seeke the aduancing of their good; whereas contrariwise they doe hate them so much the more, afflicting and persecuting them euen for this thing aboue all others, because they are of the houshold of faith, and of Gods owne familie; who make conscience of their waies, and will not run with them into the same excesse of riot. Neither do they at all ayme at Gods end, or euer think of effecting of his counsailes & secret wil; but they only labour to effect their own malicious designes, and to accomplish their owne wills, whereby they desire to glut their crueltie, and to aduance themselues out of the ruine of Gods seruants. So the Lord saith, that whereas in his cret counsaile, hee sent the King of Ashur against his peopleEsa. 10. 7. 8. to afflict them for their sins, he thought of nothing lesse; neither did his heart esteeme it so; but he onelyonly imagined to destroy 2 Sam. 12.and cut off not a few nations; that he might make all his Princes Kings; and so himselfe a mightie Monarch. Thus it was the will of God to afflict Dauid by wicked instruments, as hee also reuealed it vntounto him by his Prophet; but they neuer once dreamed of doing that which God had decreed; for Absalon aymeth at the satisfying his ambition by vsurping the kingdome; Achitophel at the making of the people more bolde and resolute in following of Absalon against his father, when by his abhominable fact all hope of reconciliation between them, should be quite cut off; and Shemei aymed at nothing but at the easing of his spleene, and disgorging his malice by his rayling and reuiling. Finally, it was the will of God that his Sonne should dye for the redemption of mankinde; but those wicked instruments which were vsed for that purpose, neuer so much as thought of accomplishing this will of God. But the Priests, Scribes, and Pharisies sought in all their proceedings to establishe their owne estates, to maintaine their reputation among the people, and withall to reuenge themselues and satisfie their malice against our Sauiour, who by discouering their hypocrisie blemished their glory, and wrought then out of the fauour of the people. And so Iudas aymed at a litle gaine, and to enrich himselfe with the price of blood. And Pilate feared the losse of his place by offending Caesar, or to hauehave in it those inconueniences which might befall him by displeasing the people. In all which respects, as the sin of these wicked instruments towards God is not at all extenuated, by their executing of his hidden counsell, seeing they doe it not in obedience vntounto God, but (being ouerruled by his prouidence) whether they will or not: so doth it nothing at all lessen their wrongs and iniuries against the faithfull, in that they are but bare instruments, and the Lord the supreame and principall cause of all their afflictions, seeing whereas hee aymeth in them at their spirituall good and saluation, these wicked men doe al they doe out of malice and hatred, and that to the end, that they may heereby bring them to ruine.
And in this regard as they are not to look wholly vntounto thē§. Sect. 8. That we are not vtterly to neglect the inferiour causes of afflictions. who are but the instruments, nor to respect onelyonly their malitious purposes and designes; but to hauehave their eyes fixed principally vponupon God who is the supreame cause, and vponupon those excellent ends at which hee aimeth in these their chastisements and corrections; so neither are they wholly to neglect them; but as in receiuing benefits we do so acknowledge the Lord to be the principall author and fountaine of them; as that we do not forget to render due thanks and respect vntounto those, whom hee vseth as the instruments of our good: so in all our afflicitons which are imposed vponupon vsus by the meanes of these wicked men; as wee are to looke vntounto the Lord, the supreame cause of them, that heereby humility and patience may be wrought in vsus; so we are also to looke vntounto the wicked men themselues, as instruments and meanes of our crosses and miseries; hating (though not their persons yet) their malice, rage and cruelty; and vsing all good and lawfull meanes, which eyther the word of God or spirituall wisedome can suggest vntounto vsus, whereby we may crosse them in their wicked purposes, and free our selues from their iniuries and oppressions; hauing heerein the worde of God for our warrant, which enioyneth vsus to vse all honest courses for our preseruation, the repelling of iniuries and the aduancing of our owne good; as also to hate all euill and iniustice wheresoeuer we find it; whether it bee directed against our selues, or any other: and the Saints of God for our precedents, as Moses, Dauid, Ezechias, the Apostles, yea our Sauiour Christ himselfe, as might bee shewed by many instances, if it were not in it selfe cleare and euident. So that howsoeuer in diuers afflictions we are to looke only to the hand of God, which doth vse inferiour causes as meanes and instruments to inflict his iudgements and chastizements, hauing in themselues no malignity nor will to hurt vsus, as when he causeth the aire to infect vsus, the water to drowne vsus, the fire to burne vsus; in which cases we are not to blame the creatures which are priuiledged from malice and sin, and are but Gods bare instruments for the effecting of his will: yet when he vseth wicked men for his instruments, as wee are cheefly to looke vntounto the hand of God, so wee are to hauehave some respect vntounto them in regard of that malignity and sin which is in them, whereby they desire our hurt and destruction. For in all afflictions we are to consider not onelyonly the action and worke as it is simply naturall, and the disposition of them to the manifestation of Gods glory, and our good, in which respect God is the cheefe author of them; but also an accidentall confusion & malignity of the action; which is wholly to be ascribed to mans corruption by whom it is performed; the former whereof being good and iust we are to like louelove and imbrace; the other we are to hate and flee as being vniust, corrupt and wicked.
And thus it appeareth that the Lord who is the principall§. Sect. 9. That the Lord so disposeth of the ends of inferiour causes that hee maketh them serue for his supreame ends; his owne glory, and the saluatiō of the elect. and supreame cause of all our afflictions, doth so gouerne and ouerrule all secondary and inferiour causes and meanes by his most wise and powerfull prouidence, that when they seeme most to oppose against him, they doe but effect that which he willeth and hath purposed to be done. Wherupon it also followeth that as hee disposeth at his pleasure of the causes themselues, so also of all their ends, making them all serue to the furthering of his ends, which are the supreame and cheefe of all, as namely his owne glory, & saluation of his elect, and that when they seeme to looke another way, and to be not onelyonly opposite to his purposes, but also infinitely contrary one vntounto another. And as the Planets hauehave eueryevery one their owne motion in their proper orbe differing from all the rest, and most of all from the motion of the primum mobile, or that which is first moued, but yet contrary to their owne motion are ouerruled and daily carried with it, and as a man walking on the top of the hatches a contrary way to the motion of the ship, doth notwithstanding goe that way which it goeth, because hee is moued with it; so when the motion of our wills doth exceedingly varie the one from the other, and all seeme to driue to a contrary end then that at which God aymeth; yet are they all so ouerruled by his power and prouidence, in whom we liue, moue and hauehave our being; that at last we meet together and bend that way whether he intendeth. All which is brought to passe after an vnknowne manner and by such hidden courses, that we know not whether wee goe, much lesse are we acquainted with the motion of others, carrying them to the same maine end; like vntounto many riuers, which by diuers and contrary waies, runne naturally and freely in their owne current vntounto the maine Ocean, and yet neuer thinke whether they goe, and much lesse of their meeting in the same Sea. And thus all the ends of the King of Ashur, Esa. 10. 7.and all his armie were by God directed to that maine end of chastising his people and punishing the wicked and rebellious; although (as the Lord plainely affirmeth) hee neuer so much as thought so, or euer aimed at this end. So the diuels end in casting the Saints into prison, was that being tormented they might be brought to make an Apostasie from the faith; but the Lord maketh Sathans end and action serue toApoc. 2. 10. further the end which he had propounded; namely that by these afflictions they might be tryed, and beeing approoued might be crowned. It was his end in afflicting Iob to bring him vntounto destruction, by causing him to curse God vntounto his face: but God maketh the Deuils action and end to further his, which was, that he might bee glorified in the triall of his graces, the faithful edified by his example, and that Iob himselfe might be fitted and prepared to receiue a greater measure of his blessings here, and of glory and happinesse in the life to come. But this will more plainely appeare in the afflictions of Ioseph, wherein as there were many agents, so likewise many ends. His brethren being full of enuy, sought to hauehave him remoued, whom their father (as they supposed) ouerloued. The Ismaelitish marchants respected their gain, his mistresse aimed first at the satisfying of her filthy lust, and after at the reuenge of her scorned louelove; his master, in his wrong conceiued iealousie, at the punishment of so great an iniurie as he thought hee had receiued; the iaylour at his ease and safetie; the vngratefull Butler thought of nothing but pleasing the King; the King sought to ease his troubled minde by vnderstanding the meaning of his dreame; the Diuell to bring by the sinne of many, innocent Ioseph vntounto destruction. But all these ends so diuers and opposite one to another, the Lord so ouer-ruled by his wise and powerfull prouidence, that he made them all concurre to the effecting of his owne ends, which were the tryall of Iosephs graces to the glory of him that gaue them; which Ioseph in modestieGen. 45. …. passeth ouer; and the preseruing of his Church in the time of extreame famine, by sending him into Aegypt to make prouision for them. The like may also bee obserued in the death and passion of our Sauiour Christ; wherein Iudas out of his couetousnesse betraieth him to gaine the siluer peeces; the Scribes and the Pharisies out of their malice and enuy persecute and accuse him, to vphold their state and honour by remouing their enemie; Pilate condemneth him out of feare and flattery to keep his grace with Caesar, and to please the people; the souldiers crucifie him out of ba…barous greedinesse to receiue a reward, and to benefit themselues with the spoyle of his garments, the Diuell vseth them all as his slaues and vassals out of his malice to mankinde, that hee might hinder our saluation by destroying our Sauiour. But God ouerruleth by his gracious and wise prouidence both him and them; making all their ends and actions to serue for the furthering of his most louing and mercifull end, euen when they most opposed against it namely the redemption and saluation of all his elect by the precious death, and allsufficient sacrifice of his innocent Sonne. By all which it appeareth, that whilest the Diuell and wicked men pursue their owne ends the Lord attaineth his, and whilest in afflicting Gods seruants, they wholy aime at their destruction; the Lord by his prouidence ouerruling all their purposes and endeauou…s, maketh them when they thinke of nothing lesse to serue for the glorifying of his holy name in the manifesting of his graces, and the saluation of the soules of his afflicted children. So that they are in his hand in this respect, like the arrow in the hand of a cunning archer, which fl…eth to the marke, and yet knoweth not whether it is going; for though they bee well acquainted with their owne malicious ends, and pursue with all greedinesse their owne intentions; yet oftentimes fayling of them, they neuer faile the furthering of those ends which God hath propounded vntounto all their actions, although they goe blindfolde to them, and neuer so much as thinke of them. The consideration whereof may greatly comfort vsus in all our afflictions imposed on vsus by wicked men; for when wee see our selues assaulted by them on eueryevery side, all of them ayming at our hurt and destruction in the generall, but yet caried thereunto by their particular ends; one out of malice to our persons, another out of desire to reuenge misconceiued wrongs, and supposed iniuries. This man out of couetousnesse hunting after a prey in our spoyle; and another out of pride and ambition seeking our downe fall, that hee may lay the foundation of his owne glory and honour, in the ruines of our estate; he out of enuy and hatred, thinking that he is better, if hee make vsus worse; and another out of his greedinesse labouring to make vsus worse, that hee may make himselfe better; then are wee to remember there is a supreame prouidence, wisdome and power, which ouerseeth and ouerlooketh all their actions and ends, and when they are most eager in pursuing their designes, doth make them, when they thinke least of it, to serue him for the effecting of all his counsailes and purposes, and the furthering and aduancing of those his maine ends, euen his owne glory and the saluation, as of all the faithfull, so also of vsus among the rest.
And thus doth Gods prouidence shew it selfe in the ends§ Sect. 10. That Gods prouidence ordereth and disposeth of all our afflictions, both in respect of their manner, measure and continuance. of our afflictions, and of them that doe afflict vsus, disposing of them all for his owne glory and our good: The like also may be said of the manner, measure and time of our afflictions; all which he so ordereth and ouerruleth, that nothing befalleth vsus, either in the manner, measure or continuance of them, but by the wise guidance of his all-seeing prouidence. For he hath as wel appointed how we shal come into afflictions, as what we shal suffer; & though there be in thē a thousand strange circumstances, and ten thousand vnthought of accidents, and vnexpected casualities; much confusion and disorder in respect of secondarie meanes, and innumerable errours and mistakings; yet is there nothing in them all vntounto him casuall and accidentall, but all foreseene and fore-ordained long before; neither any confusion or errour, but all in a direct order and methode, one cause producing and drawing on another, like the diuerse linkes of the same chaine, as may plainly appeare if wee doe examine the former examples. So doth hee by the same prouidence share out vntounto vsus the measure of our afflictions, giuing vntounto vsus a conuenient draught of this bitter potion, according to the proportion of our strength and patience. Neither doth hee let loose the Diuell and wicked men to assault vsus all at once, according as their furie would cary them; but like the master of the masteries he sitteth by, and appointeth such aduersaries to contend and wrastle with vsus, as may onelyonly exercize our patience, and not wholy vanquishe and ouercome it. And as he appointeth the manner and measure, so also the time of our afflictions, which al the malice and furie of our enemies cannot any iot lengthen or prolong. As wee may see in the 400. yeares appointed to the Israelites in the Aegyptian seruitude, which being expired, they came out,Exod. 12. 41. maugre all the malice of their enemies, the same day; in the 70. yeares of the Babilonishe captiuitie, at the expiringDaniel 9. 2. 21. 23. whereof Daniel prayeth for deliuerance, and hath presently his suite heard and granted; and in the afflictions and persecutionsApoc 2. 10. of the Church of Smyrn…, raised by Satan, which is restrained to a determinate time of ten dayes. And thus the Lord ordereth our afflicitons, both in respect of the causes, manner, measure and end, (as I shall hauehave occasion to shew more fully hereafter) in regard whereof he is said, to correct vsus in iudgment for our amendement, and not in wrath to cut vsus off. Which argument the Lord vseth to comfort his afflicted Church in her captiuitie; Feare not (saith he) O my seruant Iacob, for I will deliuer thee, &c. I am Ier. 30. 11.with thee (saith the Lord) to saue thee, though I vtterly destroy all the nations where I hauehave scattered thee, yet I will not vtterly destroy thee, but I will correct thee by iudgment, and not vtterly cut thee off. The which consolation let vsus apply vntounto our selues in all our crosses and afflictions, and considering on the one side, that the Lord is the cheefe cause and author of them, and also ordereth and disposeth them by his wise and powerfull prouidence; that Satan and wicked men are but his bare instruments whom he ruleth at his pleasure, and that whatsoeuer they intend and ayme at, he maketh al their purposes and deuices to serue his owne ends; and finally, that he appointeth both the manner, measure & time of our conflict and triall; and on the other side, that he who doth all this, is vntounto vsus no stranger or enemie, but our most deare and gracious father, who hath so loued vsus, that hee hath not spared to giuegive his onelyonly and best beloued Sonne to the death for our redemption, who can, because he is able, and will, because hee so much tendereth vsus, turne all our crosses into comforts, and makes them serue as meanes to further our saluation; let vsus not onelyonly with patience and comfort, but euen with thanksgiuing and reioycing holde out in all our trialls and suffer with meekenesse and quiet contentednesse whatsoeuer it shall please him to lay vponupon vsus.