A Discourse of the Judgments of God, Chapter 9
CHAP. IX. Fourth Reaſon, expreſſing the Government of the World falling in with Judgments.
WHen from the ſins of men, and Gods Government over them, ariſe thoſe reaſons of Judgment of ſo deep an Intereſt in his Righteouſneſs and Goodneſs, as we have already given, and ſhall yet add; it is no way diſhonourable to God to interpoſe this, as one account of Judgments, That he takes occaſion from hence to variegate his adminiſtration and providence, and to adorn that great Table of Time with thoſe mixed colours, which when ſeen at that true light we laſt ſpoke of, will reflect the beauty of infinite underſtanding and wiſdom, as in a curious piece of Tapeſtry, the pleaſure of which is its well placed diverſity, when we ſee it on the right ſide, and fully infolded; till then it may ſeem an unskillful confuſion. God, I ſay, takes advantage from the ſins of men thus to govern the world by his Judgments, not that there was any thing new to Providence in the breaking out of ſin, that it did not think of before: yet it became the infinitely good and holy Creator to give the firſt model of things anſwerable to himſelf, and when out of deep Counſel he determined to ſuffer a perturbation, even then to undertake the guidance of thoſe many croſs and unruly motions, that certainly fall out upon ſo great a diſorder for the further diſplays of his Eternal underſtanding. As the skill of the Painters hand may be as great, and appear far greater, the ſudden varieties giving an advantage, and the difficulty enhanſing the Art, when he draws a confuſion, then when he ſhadows an accompliſhed piece of order; and the prudence of a Leader more known, when it turns it ſelf to every accident, in a mutiny or ungoverned medley, then when it leads a well-governed Army, and only keeps pace with the known Rules of Military Diſcipline. It is firſt moſt natural to God to rule, and to rule with infinite wiſdom and goodneſs; next having permitted things to diſtemper through the ſin of man, to over-rule that very diſtemper, to ſet off the excellency of his own conduct by it: For when the ſins of men have brought it to that paſs, that there muſt be Judgments, it is moſt worthy of God, that by them the ſtate of the world ſhould be alſo managed, which if that caſe had not been put, ſhould have been conducted by mercy only. But now Judiciary Providence is a bridle, that God puts into the mouth of humane affairs, and turns about the whole body of them how furious and fiery ſoever: It is a Helm with which he wheels about the moſt bulkie actions, and driven of boiſterous winds, raging and impetuous paſſions: It rolls down States and Governments, and carries huge mountains of times and ſeaſons before it. Dominion is whirled about to ſeveral points; Monarchies are daſhed in pieces, that could have preſcribed for themſelves, and others riſe out of their aſhes. He divides the Nations, and the everlaſting Hills bow themſelves; he weighs and meaſures out Princes; he gives the Earth to whom he pleaſes; he ſhews his ſigns and tokens in Heaven and Earth by his Judgments, and in theſe things none can ſtay his hand either with power, ſeeing every thing depends upon him; nor by reaſon or pleas of right, ſeeing all that he gave is forfeited back into his hand by ſin. Of this reaſon of Judgments Scripture is not at all ſilent, but avows with higheſt confidence the tranſlation of things according to the pleaſure of God, who worketh all things after the counſel of his will; who created all things, and for whoſe pleaſure they are and were created, and yet he never moves them from their reſt, but with juſt reſpects to ſin; for he takes pleaſure in righteouſneſs. The righteous Lord loveth righteouſneſs, and his Throne, the Emblem of his Dominion, hath its habitation as well in equity as Judgment, and exerciſe of power.