Christian Religion, Catechism · Part 9
ROM. chap. 11. verſ. 36.
The creation (being the former part of the execution of Gods decree) being ended: what is the other?
Gouernment.
Rehearſe the Scripture,
Rom. 11.36. 36 For of him, and through him, and for him are all things: to him be glorie for euer. Amen.
How may Gouernment be defined from this place?
Zach. 4.10. Prou. 25.3. Ier. 23.23.It is the execution of Gods eternall decree of all creatures which he gouerneth, with all that belongeth vntounto them, directly to their proper ends.
It ſeemeth a thing vnworthie of Gods great and infinite maieſtie, to deale and hauehave a hand in ſmall matters, as for a King to looke to the ſmall matters of his houſehold.
Nothing at all: for not one ſparrow (whereof two are ſold for a farthing) falleth without the prouidence of our heauenly father, not ſo much as a haire of our head: no (it may be truly ſaid) not the briſtle of a ſwine falleth, without the prouidence of God: neither is it a diſgrace to the Sunne that it ſhineth in the foulleſt places.
How is that to be vnderſtood then that the Apoſtle ſaith, 1. Cor. 9.9. Hath God care for oxen?
It is ſpoken onelyonly by way of compariſon, hauing regard to the great care hee hath of men: for in reſpect hee commanded that they ſhould not muzzle the mouth of the oxe that did tread out the corne, by the care he hath of oxen, he would ſhew that his care is much more for men, eſpecially for the Miniſters of his Goſpell.
But it ſeemeth God hath no gouernment in things that come by caſualtie.
Yes verely, euen of things moſt ſubiect to chance: for the lots are caſt into the boſome,Prou. 16.33. yet the iſſue of them and their euents hang vponupon God.
VVhat is the vſe of this doctrine?
Firſt, to breed thankfulnes to God in all things that come vntounto vsus according to our deſire, not to ſacrifice to our owne nets,Hab. 1.16. or to ſtay our mindes in the inſtruments thereof, without looking vp: and this vſe the Apoſtle expreſſely noteth when hee ſaith, to him be glorie, &c. Secondly, to cauſe humilitie vnderunder the hand of God when they come otherwiſe. Thirdly, to work patience, as in the ſeruants of God it hath: It is the Lord, let him doe what pleaſeth him.1. Sam. 3.18.
But it ſeemeth that the inequalitie holden in the gouernment of men, ſhould proue that all things are not gouerned by the Lord, for the worst are richest oftentimes, and the beſt poore.
His gouernment in all things whatſoeuer is good: for he is no leſſe good in his gouernment then in his creation.
If God did guide all things wee ſhould hauehave no Serpents and other noiſome and hurtfull things; no warre, no ſicknes.
They are inſtruments and meanes of the execution of Gods iuſtice and vengeance vponupon men that offend againſt him: in which reſpect the Prophet ſaith,Amos 3. There is no euill in the citie which the Lord hath not done.
How commeth it then to paſſe if theſe be inſtruments of vengeance for ſin, that they fall vponupon the good, and rather vponupon them then vponupon the wicked?
The moſt godly hauing the remnant of ſinne that dwelleth in their mortall bodies, deſerue euerlaſting condemnation: and therefore in this life are ſubiect to any of the plagues of God: As for that they are ſharplier handled oftentimes then the wicked, it is to make triall of their patience, and to make ſhew of the graces he hath beſtowed vponupon them, which hee will hauehave knowne; and that it may bee aſſured that there is a iudgement of the world to come, wherein eueryevery one ſhall receiue according to his doing.2. Theſſ. 1.
VVhat is the end or effect of this gouernment in all things whatſoeuer?
The one is, that we ſhould feare God: farre otherwiſe then the wicked conclude, which vponupon that that it is taught,Eccleſiaſt. 3.11.14. that all things come to paſſe by the prouidence of God, according to that he hath decreed, would conclude, that then a man may giuegive himſelfe libertie to doe any thing, conſidering that it muſt needs be executed that God hath decreed.
The other, that which the Apoſtle noteth in this text, that God therefore in all things euen in the ſins of men, is to bee glorified, for the good things he draweth foorth from their euill.
Hauing ſpoken of the duties God required of man, and whereunto he had inabled him in his creation, it followeth to ſpeak of the fall, which is the tranſgreſsion therof:
VVhat place of Scripture is that wherein this is moſt commodiouſly handled?
The third chapter of Geneſis, where the firſt tranſgreſſion is ſet foorth, which was alſo the originall of all other tranſgreſſions.