The Eye and Wheel of Providence, Chapter 40
CHAP. XL. Inſtruction ſeventh.
Inſtruct. 7 THe conſideration of God's Providence over us, is a great bond to obedience; his governing and preſerving of us requireth our obedience and ſubjection to him.Ben. Gorion. lib. de bello Judaeor. He is a coward, and of a baſe ſpirit, who kicks and ſpurns, and complaineth of the government of the world, and who had rather cenſure God than be obedient to him. The Jews by placing a flag with the Romans Arms upon the walls of Jeruſalem on their three ſeveral great Feaſt-dayes, did thereby declare themſelves ſubject to the Romane Emperour: So let us be obedient and become ſubject to the King of Kings and Lord of Lords, in whom we live, move and have our being; let us hang out the flag of ſubjection, and do homage to him who governeth the whole world. Even nature it ſelf teacheth us to tender him our ſervice from whom we receive our being and preſervation. When it is the will of a Sovereign all Subjects ought to obey; all Sovereigns look for obedience from ſuch as are under their protection and government; and eſpecially, when God who is the abſolute Monarch of the univerſe doth command, all that are under his Empire muſt adore his Laws, and yield obedience to him. No man hath Power, Rule, Greatneſs, Wealth and Riches above others without him, all is by his Providence. As a Ship upon the Sea were not able to ſtand one day, but would ſoon periſh without a governour; ſo would the higheſt, the richeſt, the greateſt ſoon come to nought without his protection and providence. If thou acknowledgeſt not all thou art or haſt to be through his providence, thou deſerveſt not the name of a ſon or ſervant; but if thou doſt acknowledge it, and perform… not obedience to him, what name is bad enough for thee?Stock on Mal. chap. 1. Nay, what puniſhment is ſufficient for ſuch an offence, as a grave Divine hath noted? The moſt high and holy Angels are moſt obedient, and ſhall ſinfull duſt and aſhes be diſobedient to their Sovereign Lord? The inſenſible creatures are obedient, and ſhall the rationall be diſobedient? The Sun, the Moon, the Stars, all celeſtial creatures, all the ſeaſons, all flowers and fruits that adorn the Earth ſerve for the uſe of man, and ſhall he be diſobedient to the Lord his King and Governour?1 Sam. 15.23. Therefore for men to continue in ſinne is rebellion againſt God, a denial of his Sovereignty, and a rebellion againſt his Supream Authority. What is he that goes on in a courſe of ſinne, but a ſtubborn Rebel againſt the Lord of Heaven and Earth. We are apt to make light of ſinne, and eſpecially, if it be ſuch a ſinne as ſeemeth to do others no hurt; but we muſt learn to judge of ſinne, not by ſuch a Rule, but with reſpect to the Majeſty of that God againſt whom it is committed: This proveth any ſinfull practice to be Rebellion againſt the King of Kings. When ſinne grows common, uſually ſinners grow ſecure in ſinning; but this cannot excuſe the ſinner from Rebellion againſt the Lord of Hoſts.Luk. 19.27. As for theſe mine enemies that will not have me toreign over them, ſaith Chriſt, bring them hither, and ſlay them before my face. The Lord will eſteem and condemn them as Rebels, and will command and ſee execution (himſelf) done upon them: God is advanced far above his higheſt Enemies; he is higher than the higheſt, and armed with ſo much power as to make all his foes his footſtool, and will bring his ſtouteſt Enemies to fall before him; they ſhall be daſht in pieces againſt this Rock, in the holes whereof the Saints hide themſelves, and are ſafe. If a King know ſuch a man to be his Enemy, hath feifed upon him, condemned him to die, and reſolved to put him to death; any wiſe man would think that condition of his between the ſentence and execution were not much deſirable: Now the Enemies of God are condemned already, God hath them in his power, and the ſword of Divine vengeance hangeth over their heads (as it were) by an horſe-hair, every moment ready to fall upon them; therefore let them for the preſent enjoy great places, high dignities, and much power in the world; yet none of theſe can ſecure them from falling into the hands of the living God, who regardeth his greateſt Enemies no more, than a ſtout Army doth a company of poor ſhepherds.
Labour then to keep cloſe with God, walking in his wayes, without denial or delay; The Lord is with you while you be with him; if you ſeek him, he will be found of you; but if you forſake him, he will forſake you; when men will act by principles of their own, and drive on evil deſigns upon corrupt pretences, they cannot aſſure themſelves that God will proſper them, or ſo much as protect them; the experience whereof we have ſeen made good of late by many ſevere inſtances of Providence.