A Christian Library, Chapter 2
CHAP. 2. That it makes for the glory of his Wisdom.
2 SEcondly, it makes for the glory of his marvellous and singular Wisdom, when he turneth the malice of his enemies to the advantage of his Church. I would (saith Paul) ye understood, brethren, that the things which have come unto me, are turned rather to the furthering of the Gospel: So that my bonds in Christ are famous throughout all the judgement-hall, and in all other places; insomuch that many of the brethren in the Lord, are emboldned through my bonds, and dare more frankly speak the Word, Phil. 1.12, 13, 14. The Apostles imprisonment was not the Gospels restraint, but inlargement.
In all other cases, a gentle resistance heightens the desire of the seeker: in this; the strength of opposition, meeting with as strong a faith, hath the same effect.
Again, how admirably did the Lord turn the malice of Iosephs brethren when they sold him into Egypt! And that devillish plot of Haman against Mordecai and his people to the good of his Church in general, and of Ioseph and Mordecai in particular? Gen. 45.8, 11. Hester 9.1, 2, 3. Their plots to overthrow Ioseph and Mordecai, were turned by a divine Providence to the only means of advantaging them. And herein was that of the Psalmist verified, Surely the rage of man shall turn to thy praise, Psal. 76.10. He who can do all things, will do that which shall be most for his own honour: And it is not so much glory to God to take away wicked men, as to use their evill to his own holy purposes; how soon could the Commander of Heaven and Earth, rid the World of bad members? But so should he lose the praise of working good by evil instruments: it sufficeth that the Angels of God resist their actions, while their persons continue.
Yea, as in the Creation, out of that confused Chaos, he drew forth this orderly and adorned World: so still out of Satans Tragedies and Hurliburlies, he brings forth sweet order and comeliness: for God (many times) works by contrary means: as Christ restored the blinde man to his sight, with clay and spittle; he caused the Israelites to grow with depression, with persecution to multiply, Exod. 1.12. The blood of the Martyrs is the seed of the Church: Persecution enlargeth the bounds of it; like as Palms oppressed, and Camamile trod upon, mount the more, grow the faster.
Yea, it is admirable to consider, how the Gospel grew, maugre all the adverse blasts, and floods which the billows of Earth, and bellows of Hell could blow or poure out against it in those sanguinary Persecutions: The more we are cut down by the sword of Persecution; the more still we are, sayes Tertullian, of the Christians in his time: Yea, the sufferings of one, begat many to the love of the truth: we read that Cicilia a poor Virgin, by her gracious behaviour in her Martyrdom; was the means of converting four hundred to Christ. The spectators made contrary constructions, to what their Persecutors intended: witness Iustine Martyr, Who when he saw the Christians suffer such great things so cheerfully, said; Surely these men have more in them then the men of the World: they have other principles: and thereupon enquired what manner of people they were, and so came to embrace the truth. Whence Master Iohn Lindsey, a friend to Bishop Bettoune, upon the burning of Master Patrick Hamilton; said to him: My Lord, if you burn any more; let them be burnt in hollow Cellars: for the smoak of Master Hamilton hath infected as many as it blew upon (Master Knox in his History of Scotland.) And as touching Iulians in particular, Italy never more abounded with Students, then when he had shut up all the School-doors, and turned Learning into exile.
And so on the contrary, the very means which wicked men use, to establish their own power, proves (by Gods providence) the only means of their ruine. Those Babel-projectors would build themselves a Towre, whose top should reach unto Heaven, lest they should be scattered abroad: which act of theirs proved the only cause of their being scattered and dispersed all the World over, Gen. 11.4, 8. Iosephs brethren sold him into Egypt, that so they might prevent his reigning over them; but God made it the only means of his reigning over them. Genesis 37.20, 36. Pharaoh and his deep Counsellours would deal wisely in oppressing the Israelites, lest they should multiply and get out of his Land; but by this they multiplied the more, and got out the sooner, even to the ruine of him and his Countrey. Exod. 1.9, 10, 11, 12. The chief Priests and Pharisees would most wisely put Christ to death, lest all men should believe in him. Iohn 11.47, 48, 53. When thereby chiefly all came to believe in him. For, saith he, when I am lifted up from the Earth: I will draw all men unto me. Iohn 12.32. And not seldome doth the Lord thus turn the deepest counsels of Haman and Achitophel into foolishness. Witness the Prelates, & caetera, Oath.
He that could prevent our sufferings, by his power, doth permit them in his wisdom, that he may glorifie his mercy in our deliverance, and confirm our faith by the issue of our distresses.
'Tis as easie for God to work without means, as with them; and against them, as by either: but assuredly it makes more for the Makers glory, that such an admirable harmony should be produced out of such an infinite discord. The World is composed of four Elements, and those be contraries: the Year is quartered into different Seasons: the minde of man is a mixture of disparities, as joy, sorrow, hope, fear, love, hate, and the like: the body doth consist and is nourished by contraries; how divers even in effect as well as taste (wherein variety hits the humour of all) are the Birds and Beasts that feed us! And how divers again are those things that feed them! How many several qualities have the Plants that they brouze upon! Which all mingled together; what a well tempered Sallad do they make!
Thus you see; that though faith be above reason, yet is there a reason to be given of our faith. Oh what a depth of wisdom may lie wrapt up in those passages, which to our weak apprehensions may seem ridiculous.