A Counterpoison, Religious treatise · Chapter 2
CHAP. II.
That it makes for the glory of his Wisedome.
2. SEcondly, it maketh for the glory of his marvellons and singular wis…dome, when he turneth the malice of his enemies to the advantage of his Church. I would (saith Paul) yee understood brethren that the things which have come unto me, are turned rather to the furthering of the Gospell: 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 imboldned through my bonds, and dare more frankly speake 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.
Againe, how admirably did the Lord turne the malice of Josephs brethren when they sold him into Aegypt: And that devillish plot of Hamm against Mordecay and his people, to the good of his Church in generall, and of Joseph and Mordecay in particular? Gen. 45. 8. 11. Hester 9. 1, 2, 3. Their plots to overthrow Joseph and Mordecay, wereturned by a Divine Providence to the onelyonly meanes of advantaging them. And herein was that of the Psalmist verified, Surely the rage of man shall turne to thy praise, Psal. 76. 10. He who can doe all things, will doe that which shall be most for his owne honour: And it is not so much glory to God to take away wicked men, as to use their evill to his owne holy purposes; how soone could the Commander of Heaven and Earth rid the world of bad members? But so should he lose the praise of working good by evill 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 order'y and adorned world: so still out of Satans Tragedies and Harliburlies, hee brings forth swe…t order and comlinesse: for God (many times) workes by contrary meanes: as Christ restored the Blind 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 Palmes oppressed, and Ca…omile trod upon, mount the more, grow the faster.
Yea, it is admirable to consider, how the Gospell grew, mauger all the adverse blasts, and floods, which the billowes of Earth, and bellowes of hell could blow or poure out against it in those sanguinary persecutions: and as touching Julians in particular, Italy never abounded more with students, than when he had shut up all the Schoole d…ores, and turned learning into exile.
And so on the contrary, the very meanes which wicked men use, to establish their owne power, proves (by Gods providence) the onelyonly means of their ruine. Those Bahel… projectors would build themselves a Tower, whose toppe should reach unto Heaven, lest they should be scattered abroad: which act of theirs proved the onelyonly cause of their being scattered, and dispersed all the world over, Gen. 11. 4. 8. Josephs brethren sold him into Aegypt, that so they might prevent his raigning over them: but God made it the onelyonly meanes of his reigning over them. Gen. 37. 20. 36. Pharaoh and his deep Counsellours would deale 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 chiefe Priests and Pharisees would most wisely put Christ to death, lest all men should beleeve in him. John 11. 47, 48, 53. When thereby chiefly all came to beleeve in him. For saith he, when I am lifted up from the Earth, I will draw all men unto me. John 12. 32. And not seldome, doth the Lord thus turne the deepest Counsels of H…man and Achitophel into foolishness….
He that could prevent our sufferings by his power, doth permit them in his wisedome, that he may glorifie his mercy in our deliverance; and confi…me our faith by the issue of our distresses.
Tis as easie for God to worke without meanes, 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 foure Elements, and those be contraries: the Yeare is quartered into different seasons: the minde of man is a mixture of disparities, as joy, sorrow, hope, seare, love, b…te, and the like: the body doth consist and is nourished by contraries; how divers even in effect aswell as taste (wherein variety hits the humour of all) are the Birds and Beasts that feed us: And how divers againe are those things that feed them? How many severall qualities have the Plants that they Brouze upon? Which all mingled together, what a well tempered S…llad do they make?
Thus you see that though saith be above …e…son, yet is there a reason to be given of our faith. Oh what a depth of wisedome may lye wrapt up in those passages, which to our weak apprehensions may seem rid…cu…ous!