The Bibles Abstract and Epitome, Part 22 – Part 23
Meanes and Second Causes used.
ORdinary Meanes are to be used of every man in his Calling carefully, and when they beat hand we must not look for any help without them: though the Lord be able to doe what he will without Meanes. Ioab when the Aramites2 Sam. 10. 12. came against him, heartened his Souldiers, though they were but few, bidding them to be strong and valiant for their people, and for the Cities of their God, and then let the Lord doe (saith he) what is good in his eyes.
And our Saviour Christ avoucheth that to be flat tempting of God, for him to leape downe from the Pinacle of the Temple to the ground, when as there was an ordinary way at hand to descend by Staires. L…st therefore we to our destruction contemne the use of Second Causes which are ordained for our good, God hath himselfe first used them in the worlds government, when as hee might as easily doe it by himselfe alone, as with Second Causes: I will, saith the Lord, heare the Heavens, and they shall heare the Earth, and the Earth shall heare the Corne, the Wine, and the Oyle, and they shall heare Iezreel: So for the converting of David, the Lord used the Prophet Nathan: And to deliver Peter out of Prison he sent an Angel: and to convert the Eunuch he sent Philip unto him: And thus the Lord doth, that he may honour his Creatures as Fellow-workers with him: And to that purpose he hath ordained meat and apparell, to cover the body and to maintaine life: Phisitians and Physicke to recover health: honest exercises and sleep to conserve health: Princes and Magistrates to conserve publike Peace: M…sters of Families for domesticall governement. Preaching and reading the Word, receiving the Sacraments, workes of Charitie, Prayers, Discipline, &c. for exercising of Faith. These and such like Meanes and Second Causes then are not to be contemned, or neglected, as though God would governe the world, or save us by himselfe without them: for so to doe, were nothing else but to tempt God, and to hinder, as much as in us lieth, the execution of his Providence, which is forbidden by the Lord, saying, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God, which they doe, who neglecting the Meanes ordained by God, expect Miracles from Heaven.
Object. If Gods Providence be immutable, what need Second Causes, &c? He that shall be amended, shall so be without correction or admonition.
Answ. The Answer is, that those things are separated which are to be joyned together. God in his eternall Counsell had ordained to make Davids will good of evill: and to incline the same from sinne to repentance; had ordained also Meanes, by which his will should be changed, namely Nathan.
Used Meanes to
Adam and Eve
Cover their nakednesse by sewing together of fig-leaves, and theGen. 3. Lord by making them coverings of beasts skins.
Abraham
Preserve himselfe in time of famine, by going into Egypt, and inGen. 10. time of Feare, by saying Sarah was his Sister: and to preserveChap. 20. peace, betwixt himself and Lot, their Herdsmen fallingChap. 13. at contention, gave Lot the choice of the Land.
Abigail
Pacifie the wrath of David, being kindled against Nabal her husband, by carrying a Present unto him.1 Sam. 25.
Bathsheba
Get the Kingdome to Solomon, as she was willed by Nathan.1 King. 1.
Benhadad
Procure peace with the King of Israel by sending his servants1 King. 20. unto him, with Sackcloth about their loynes, and ropes about their necks, in signe of Humiliation.
Used Meanes to
David
Come into Saul's presence (to encounter with Goliah) and that by saying unto the people, What shall be done to the man 1 Sam. 17.that killeth this Philistine? and to escape Saul, casting hisChap. 18. Javeling at him, he avoided him, and sending to take him, was let downe at a window, and so escaped him. And toChap. 19. know what he intended against him, absented himselfe from his Table, to heare by Ionathan what he would say of him: And from time to time, being pursued by him, fled from oneChap. 20. place to another to hide himself fro… him. And to preserve his Father and Mother from Saul's wrath, being againstChap. 22. them kindled, he placed them with the King of Moab, andChap. 23. to deliver himselfe from evill that might befall him by King Achish, knowing who he was, he feigned himselfe to be madChap. 21. before him: and going against the Philistines slew all of them, that not any of them might carry tydings thereof to the King, being supposed to have gone out against the Israelites by him: And to overcome the Philistines he turned behinde them over against the Mulberry-trees, as the Lord2 Sam. 5. had commanded him: And to confound Abithophel he used Hushai's counsell.Chap. 17.
Used Meanes to
Daniel
Understand Nebuchadnezzar's dreame, and that by praying, andDan. 2. to finde out the Truth of Susanna's false accusation, he putChap. 13. her accusers asunder, examining them.
The Disciples
Preserve their brethren in time of Famine, and that by sending unto them according to their abilitie, wherewith the LordActs 11. had weekly blessed them.
Elias
Cut of the Prophets of Baal, by assembling them together under pretence of an Offering to be made to their gods, &c.1 King. 18. And so to escape from Iezebol fled to Beersheba: and to freeChap. 19. himselfe from the hands of two of the Captaines sent to take him, he prayed for fire from Heaven to consume them: and2 Kin. 1. to relieve himselfe in the time of famine, he lived with a widow a long time.1 King. 17.
Used Meanes to
Elisha
Withstand the Kings Messenger sent to murther him, and that by willing his owne Servant to take heed to shut the doore against him. And to preserve himselfe from the Aramites sent to Dothan to take him, he prayed, and the Lord struck them with blindnesse, that they could not see him. And to defend the King of Israel from the King of Syria, he sent2 King. 6. word unto him, that he should forbeare to goe to such and such like places, where the King of Syria lay in wait for him.
Q Esther
Preserve the Jewes from Hamans plot intended against them,Esther 1. and that by inviting the King to a banquet, and by praying.Chap. 5. Chap. 6.
The Eunuch
Understand the Word of God as well by reading, as also byActs 8. taking of Philip into the Coach to interpret to him.
Used Meanes to
The Gibeonites
Procure their peace with Ioshua, by pretending to come from a farre Countrey unto him, having on old shooes, bread thatIosh. 9. was mouldie, and garments worn.
Gideon
Pacifie the Ephraimites murmuring by milde answering.Iudg. 8. 1.
Hezekiah
Heale his boile, by laying a bunch of dry figs thereon, and toIsai. 38. move King Ashur to remove his Army brought against him,2 King. 20. he caused all the waters and fountaines in the Countrey to be2 Chron. 32. stopped, so that he had not to drinke for them.
Ioshua
Espie out of what strength the Citie Iericho was, by sendingIosh. 2. spies to learne the same: and to conquer A… he sent men byChap. 8. night, willing them to lye in wait against them.
Used Meanes to
Iacob
Defend himselfe from the rage of Esau his brother, by departingGen. 27. for a time from his father, and being in service with Laban, to get to himselfe the party-coloured sheep, he set pilled rods before them: and returning from Laban, to pacifie the wrathCha. 30. 30, 41 of his brother meeting him, sent a present to him: And to preserve his goods, if Esau had intended evill against him, he divided that he had into severall companies, wherebyChap. 32. some might escape of them: And then meeting his brotherChap. 33. humbled himselfe unto him, and above all by prayer escaped him.
Ioseph
Bring his brethren to remembrance that they had done him wrong, and that by reprehending and imprisoning them,Gen. 44. their Conscience thereby accusing them: And to be freedChap. 45. out of prison intreated Pharaoh's Butler to remember him:Chap. 40. And to preserve the Egyptians in time of famine, in theChap. 41. 18. plentifull yeares he provided for them.
Iothan
Preserve himselfe from Abimelech, and that by flying.Iudg. 9.
Used Meanes to
Ioah
Reconcile Absalom unto David by a cunning woman, and that2 Sam. 14. the Israelites might be valiant in battell against the AssyriChap. 10. 11. Assyrians▪ he incouraged them.
Ionah and Paul's Marriners
Save themselves in the storme on the waters, and that byIonah 1. casting out their wares, lightning their ships, still endevoring,Act. 27. calling on the Lords Name by praying.
Ioseph
Preserve Christ by flying, as the Angel willed him.Matth. 2. 14.
Ieroboam
Escape from Solomon, by absenting himselfe from him.1 King 11.
Used Meanes to
Iehosheba
Preserve Ioash from Athaliah going about to kill him, and that by keeping him and his Nurse in her Bed-chamber, as also2 King. 11. hiding him in Gods house the space of six yeares.
Iehu
Destroy Baals prophets under pretence of a Sacrifice that he2 King. 11. had to do for them, to their God Baal, who being assembled, slew both young and old, great and small.
Iethro
Ease Moses of the burden upon him, in judging of the people, and hearing of Causes between them, and that by giving himExod. 18. counsell to provide men of courage to rule over them.
Used Meanes to
Iephthah
Espie out the Ephraimites from the Gileadites, and that by makingIudg. 12. them to pronounce the word Shibboleth.
The Israelites
Preserve their first-born from the Angel slaying the Egyptians,Exod. 12. 22. and that by striking the Lintels of their doores with bloud, as God had commanded; and being at the first overcome of the Benjamites, they afterwards lay in Ambushment, &c. andIudg. 20. so prevailed against them: And being stung with fiery Serpents, looking on the Brazen Serpent, a representation ofNumb. 21. Christ, they were healed.
Used Meanes to
Moses
Cover the Egyptian slain by him, by hiding him in the sand, and to escape from Pharaoh, fled into the Land of Midian: andExod. 12. to have his hands stayed up, called Aaron and Hur to stay them, during which time the Israelites prevailed against theChap. 17. Amalekites: And to keep the Israelites from the Mount, he set marks: And to search the land of Canaan, he sent spies:Chap. 19. And to preserve the Israelites from Korahs destruction, heNumb. 13. willed them to depart from among them: And to stay GodsNumb. 16. wrath, he often prayed to God for them.
Moses his mother
Preserve him for a time by hiding him, and after by puttingExod. 1. him into an Arke, &c. to see what would become of him.
Michal
Preserve David from Saul's Messengers, saying that David was sick, and laying an image in his bed, while the Messengers1 Sam. 18. returned to Saul, he escaped.
Used Meanes to
Noah
Make the Arke, as God commanded, and therein received all kinde of Creatures to increase the world again.Gen. 6.
Nathan
Move David to confesse his sins, by a Parable told him.2 Sam. 12.
Nehemiah
B…ild the house of God, by Letters from Artaxerxes gotten.Nehem. 2.
Obadiah
Preserve the Lords Prophets, and that by hiding them.1 King. 18.
The Proph.
Make Ahab judge himselfe, by a Parable told him.1 King. 20.
Pharaoh
Provide for the deare yeares, as Ioseph willed him.Gen. 41.
Pharaoh's servants
Preserve themselves and their cattell, as many as feared God, byExod. 9. departing out of the fields from the Haile that destroyed all that there remained.
Used Meanes to
Paul
Preserve himselfe from the Jewes, and that by being let downeAct. 9. at a window: and being at Cesarea was sent by his brethrenChap. 14. to Tarsus: fled from Lystra to Derbe, Cities of Lycaonia: said that he was a Romane, and thereby escaped whipping:Chap. 22. 25. cryed out that he was a Pharisee, and so w…s delivered, being accused falsly: Sent his s…sters son to the Centuriō to acquaintChap. 23. 17. him with the Conspiracie of certain wicked men, and therebyChap. 27. 17. 31. 38. escaped them, the captaine causing two Centurions with two hundred souldiers to convey him: And being in danger2 Cor. 11. 32. at Sea, followed the counsell before told him by an Angel.
Used Meanes to
Rebekah
Get the blessing unto Iacob, by making him savoury meat toGen. 27. carry to his Father, to change his garments; and to preserve him from Esau, sent him to Padan Aram.
Rachel
Obtaine Children Naturall meanes by Marriage,Gen. 29.
Obtaine Children Artificiall meanes by Mandrakes,Chap. 30.
Obtaine Children Godly meanes by Prayers.14, 15.
Rahab
preserve her selfe and hers, and that by entertaining Ioshua's Iosh. 2.spies, as also by tying a cord at her window, as she was willedChap. 6 by the spies which she harboured.
Used Meanes to
Ruth
Relieve her selfe and Naomi her mother in law, and that byRuth 2. gleaning eares of Corne; as also followed the Counsell of Naomi, to get Boaz to her husband.Chap. 4.
Saul
Procure the love of certaine wicked men speaking against him,1 Sam. 10, and that by not replying unto them, making as though he heard not the words spoken by them.
Samuel
Defend himself from Saul, fearing him, being sent to annoint1 Sam. 16. David to be King, and that by taking an Heifer with him to sacrifice, as God commanded him.
Shechemites
Preserve themselves from Ishmael, going about most treacherously to slay them, and that by telling him that they hadIer. 41. 7. treasures in the fields hidden, &c. and so escaped him.
Used Meanes to
The Steward
Maintaine himselfe after his dismission, his Stewardship beingLuke 16. t…ken from him, and that by causing those that were indebted to his Master to set down lesser summes then they owed him.
Ʋrijah
Preserve himself from King Iehoiakim, and that by flying into Egypt from him, from whence the wicked king notwithstandingIer. 26. sent for him, and slew him.
Preserve Ahimaaz and Ionathan
by putting them into a well, spreading ground corne over the covering, and so they escaped2 Sam. 17. the Messengers of Absalom sent to take them.
The Woman
Deliver her citie and the people from Ioab pursuing Sheba: and2 Sam. 20. that by causing Sheba's head to be cut off, and given to Ioab, as he commanded.
Be cured of her bloudie issue: and she of Canaan to have herMark 5. daughter cured by coming to Christ, together with manyMatth. 15. other diseased persons.
Used Meanes to
Christ
Pres…rve himselfe from the Pharisees, consulting to destroy him,Matth. 12. and that by departing from them; and from the Jewes seekingChap. 14. 13. to kill him, by walking in Galile not in Jury, as also by goingIoh. 7. 1. to the Feast of Tabernacles, not openly but privily, walkingChap. 11. 54. secretly: As likewise by going from them into theChap. 8 59. wildernesse, and sometimes by a ship waiting on him, andChap. 11. 54. willed his Disciples to beware of men, and that, if they wereMark 3. 9, 7. persecuted in one Citie, they should fly into another to saveChap. 10. 39. themselves, and counselled them to be wise as Serpents, butMatth. 10. withall to be innocent as Doves.
Spiritual Means
St Paul saith that
Are to be used to obtaine Salvation, and they are Faith, whichRom. 10. 17. cometh by Hearing, Hearing by Preaching, after which followethChap. 8. Obedience, Sanctification and Justification by Christ.Titus 1. To this is to be added to make Election sure, Veritie withAct. 13. 48. Faith, Vertue with Knowledge, with Knowledge Temperance,Eph. 2. 10. with Temperance Patience, &c.2 Pet. 1. 5.
The Lord appointed Meanes, that his banished are not utterly expelled.2 Sam. 14. 24.
Secret things belong unto the Lord: to man revealed.Deut. 29. 29.
Victorie is of God: yet the horse for battell is prepared.Prov. 21. 31.
That provideth not for his owne, and especially for them of his houshold, he hath 2 Cor. 8. 21.denyed the Faith, and is worse then an infidell, saith the Apostle S. Paul.1 Tim. 5. 8.Gen. 30 30.
Use.
We may learne hereby not to contemne Second Causes, abusing thereby Gods Providence: His revealed will is, that we use ordinarie remedies, leaving the issue to him, who will dispose thereof to his good will and pleasure. Amen.
Of Lots: A Meanes used for divers ends.
LOts are a part of Gods Worship, which are to be used in matters of weight, to the deciding of doubts, and ending of strifes and contentions: and so speaketh Solomon, saying, The lot causeth contentions to cease, and parteth between Prov. 18 18.the mighty.
There are three sorts of Lots, of which there is but one Good. There is a Civill Lot: a Sporting Lot: and a Divining Lot.
The Civill
is only Good, which is for ending of Controversies, dividing of1 Sam. 20. Lands, discovery of Malefactours.Iosh. 18. 6.
The Sporting
is used for some unnecessary ends, as to helpe a man decayed, by making gaine by gaming, &c.
The Divining
is by opening a Booke, o… casting a Dye, to declare good or bad successe, &c. and such like.
By lot
Achan was sound out by Ioshua to have the execrable things.Iosh. 7. Ioshua divided the Land to the Is…aelites: The souldiers Christs garments.Chap. 18.Matth. 17.
By lot
Ionathan was found to have tasted hony: and Ionah of sin to be guilty.1 Sam. 14 Ion 1. Saul was chosen to be King of Israel: and Matthias to be an Apostle.1 Sam. 10. All. 1. The Goat was chosen for a sin▪ offering: and the Levites brought theLevit. 16. 10. offering.Nehem. 10. 34. Zacharias burnt incense: and one of ten were from captivitie taken.Luk. 1. 9, Neh. 11. 1.
The lot is cast into the lap: but the whole disposing thereof Prov. 16. 33.is of the Lord.
Reade Iudg. 20. 9. Esth. 3. 7. Chap. 9. 24. Numb. 26. Chap. 33. 54.