The Manifold Wisdom of God, Treatise · Chapter 17
CHAP. XVII.
THe consideration whereof discoversVse. to us the singular providence of God in ordering the world, and his wonderfull wisedome, goodnesse and mercy in preparing and giving meanes of grace and salvation fitted for the people of every Age according to their severall dispositions, and the necessity of every Age and generation. In the first ages next unto the state of Innocency, when men lived divers hundreds of yeeres, and had the helpes of long observation and great experience, besides the instructions and historicall relations of long-lived Progenitors; who, as eye and eare-witnesses, could from Adam, Methushelah and Noah, rehearse Gods great workes from the Creation, and teach them the knowledge of God; then the Lord dealt more sparingly, and afforded but small and rare meanes, even a few visions, revelations, and generall and obscure promises to turne men from their owne wayes, and draw them to seeke salvation in him. But when mens ages and lives were shortned by the increase of corruption, and by mens multiplying of iniquity, and growing more hard, stubborne, and rebellious; The Lord, to the former promises made to the Fathers, added a fiery Law which he gave from mount Sinai, in thunder and lightening, and with a terrible voyce to the stubborne and stiffenecked Israelites; whereby to breake and tame them, and to make them sigh and long for the promised Redeemer, when they were pressed with the bondage of the Law, and with the intolerable burden of Rites and Ceremonies. And when after many ages they were growne so desperately rebellious, that they scorned Gods Messengers, rejected his Lawes and Commandements; misused and persecuted his extraordinary Prophets, who wrought wonders in their sight, and slew his servants which he sent unto them; Then at last hee sent his sonne in whom hee fulfilled all the promises made to the Fathers, who also fulfilled the Law both Morall and Ceremoniall, and made reconciliation for sinne and iniquity, and brought in eternall righteousnesse, and hath made with all the world the New Covenant of the eternall Gospell of peace, by which we receive the promise of the Spirit, who workes in us all grace to the mortifying of the Old man, subduing the rebellious flesh, casting downe of the strong holds of sinne and Satan, and bringing all thoughts in captivity to the obedience of Christ.
Thus as the world hath had more need of stronger helpes and powerfull meanes, God in his wise providence hath increased and supplied them in severall Ages; and as sinne hath more abounded, and stubburnnesse and hardnesse increased; so God hath more shewed his goodnesse, magnified his mercy, and enlarged his bounty, by giving more powerfull meanes, by renuing and explaining the Covenant of life and salvation, and making his Grace more to abound towards the sonnes of men. And therefore let us hereby be stirred up to take notice of Gods speciall providence, how he respecteth the sonnes of sinfull men, and is mindfull of them to visite them, and take care for them in all Ages: Let us admire his wisedome, extoll his goodnesse and mercy, and labour to bring forth abundance of fruit, according to the culture and tillage, and the powerfull meanes of Grace which God hath bestowed upon us under the Gospell.
Let us be ashamed and confounded in our selves, for our barrennesse after so many plentifull showers powred downe upon us; and acknowledge and confesse that we had long agone beene over-growne with all wickednesse, and swallowed up of our sinnes and iniquities, if the Lord had not by the strong hand of his glorious Gospell, and his mighty and powerfull Spirit shed forth plentifully through Iesus Christ in these last dayes, stopt the current of our sinfull corruption, and staid us from running headlong into destruction. As for them who in this great light of the Gospell, multiply their workes of darknesse, and make their sinnes and transgressions ascend up in great multitudes like thicke cloudes towards heaven, and doe hate and persecute the truth which shineth unto them, and love the darknesse of errours more then the light of sound doctrine; Let them know that their rebellion against the light deserves the reward of the mist and blacknesse of darknesse for ever; Let them feare and justly suspect that they are the ground which the Apostle speakes of, Hebr. 6. 8. which when it hath drunken in the raine which oft commeth upon it, doth bring forth no good fruit, but thornes, briers, and poysonfull stinking weedes, and therefore is rejected, and is nigh unto cursing, whose end is to be burned. And just it is with God, that hee should send such persons strong delusions, that they should beleeve the lies of the man of sinne, and dote after errours and heresies, that they all may be damned who have not received the love of the truth that they might be saved; but have taken pleasure in unrighteousnesse, as the Apostle hath foretold, 2 Thess. 2. 11, 12.