Two Treatises, Treatise 1 · Chapter 2
CHAP. II.
Contains the Method of Proceeding, and … therein the firſt Argument drawn from God's Attributes.
FOr Inlargement of this needful, andMethod propounded. excellent Point, I ſhall fix on Four Heads of Meditation. (1.) To give in a plain Proof of my Aſſertion, That God is All-Sufficient; wherein I ſhall propound ſome convincing Arguments. (2.) I ſhall demonſtrate the Truth, That this Conſideration, That God is All-Sufficient, ſhould ingage us quietly and ſilently, to ſubmit unto God, and ſtay, and depend upon his All-Sufficiency amidſt our greateſt Loſſes and Afflictions. (3.) I ſhall endeavour to Reſolve Two or Three Caſes emergent from the premiſes. (4thly. and laſtly) I ſhall Conclude with ſome particular, and uſefull Application.
I reſume theſe Heads according to my propounded Order.The Doctrine proved by Four Arguments.
1. I am to prove That God is All-Sufficient: Though the Doctrine be moſt undoubtedly true, and God's Children have abundantly experimented the Truth thereof; yet, I ſhall endeavour to give you more abundant proof, even good Meaſure full preſt, and runing over, which I ſhall propound in theſe Four enſuing convincing Arguments.
The Firſt, whereof is drawn from Gods Arg. 1 drawn from Gods Attributes.Attributes. Now although we diverſly Apprehend them, as one way we underſtand God's Juſtice, another way his Mercy, &c. Yet all theſe are but one in God. He is one pure uncompounded ſimple Act: And he manifeſts himſelf by his Attributes of Omnipotency, Power, Mercy, Goodneſs, Wiſdom, and Truth; that he is able to Relieve, Support, Supply, and Extricate us out of all our Straits, Difficulties, and Exigencies whatſoever. Let's more particularly; for the clearing of the Truth, produce Inſtances in five Attributes (viz.) God's Wiſdom, Power, Mercy, Truth, and Unchangeableneſs, from all which will Evidently appear, the Truth of the firſt Branch of the Doctrine. That God is All-Sufficient.
Firſt, Let's conſider the Wiſdom of1. The Atribute of Wiſdom. God. As God in the Beginning, by Wiſdom, made Heaven and Earth: So by Wiſdom, He Ordereth, Guideth, and Governeth all the Things therein contained; This Wiſdom is infinite. God underſtandeth all things, and knowethPſal. 147. 5. the Reaſon of them: He cannot be deceived in any thing. And who can or dare reprove him in any thing He doeth, or queſtion why he hath ſo done? But as for worldly Wiſdom, God will Deſtroy1 Cor. 1. 19. 20. it, and make Fooliſh the Wiſdom of the World: The Fooliſhneſs of God (as the1 Cor. 1. 25. Apoſtle ſaith) is Wiſer than Men. (i. e.) That which the Men of the World count Fooliſhneſs, hath more Wiſdom in it,Nemini obſcurum eſt, quam improprie ſtultitia, vel infirmitas Deo adſcribatur ſed neceſſe fuit talibus Ironiis inſanam carnis arrogantiam refutare, quâ Deum omni ſuâ gloriâ ſpoliare non dubitat. Calv. in loc. than all their Worldly Wiſdom. Folly or Weakneſs (ſaith judicious Calvin) is improperly aſcribed to God: But it was neceſſary by ſuch Ironies, to confute the mad Arrogance of the Fleſh, which would rob God of his Glory.
God can infatuate the Wiſdom of the Wiſe, and turn the Counſels of Achitophel into Fooliſhneſs. Be Men as great Politicians, as Machiavel was reputed to be, yet God can Blaſt all their Counſels▪ He taketh the Wiſe in their own craftineſs Job 5. 13.(i. e.) ſuch as think Qui ſibi ſapientes videbantur Eo▪ ipſo quod aſtute cogitarant cap…antur & irretiantur. Merc. in loc.themſelves Wiſe: in that ſelf-ſame thing, which they craftily contrived, they are taken, and intangled (as Learned Mercer obſerveth on the place) Saint Paul ſeems to have Quoted this Scripture out of 1 Cor. 3. 19. There's an Emphatical Word in the Original foreign veteratoria verſutia, (i. e.) a jugling craft; A proclivity, and readineſs to all Cheating Tricks whatſoever. However (as Beza notes) Though they be Subtile Ʋt cunque ſunt vafri, Eos tamen D… minus capiet, cum eorum artes reipſa declarabit, illud ipſum eſſe quo ſeſe in volve rint. Beza in Loc.and Crafty, yet God will catch them, and diſcover them, to be what they are.
Now from this inſtance of the Wiſdom of God, we may give an abundant proof of his All-Sufficiency: For when we are Intangled, and be wildred with worldly Cares and Fears, and know not how to get out; when we are involv'd in Mazes, Perplexities, and Labyrinths, and know not how to extricate our ſelves, and we are at our Wits end; then Wiſdom from heaven makes a Way, for our Evaſion, & ſets us at Liberty. When Iſaac was bound on the Altar, and Abraham Stretcht forth his Hand to give the Deaths Stroke, all the Wiſdom of the wiſeſt Men on Earth, would have been Non-pluſt, not knowing how to contrive a Deliverance: But the Wiſdom of God exerteth it ſelf, and interpoſeth in that needful inſtant, between the lifting up the Hand, and the Striking of the Blow, and a Voice ſpeaks from Heaven, Lay not thine Hand upon Gen. 22. 12.the Lad. However, Iſaac was unexpectedly delivered; yet, Abraham would gladly Offer… a Sacrifice, and he knew not where, upon ſuch a ſudden to make Proviſion: Behold further, How the Wiſdom of God contrives, and provides a Ram for a Burnt Offering. What thenverſ. 13. muſt we do in all our doubts and difficulties, but make our Addreſſes and Supplications unto God? God is a God Jam. 1. 5.of Wiſdom, of Him, we muſt ask Wiſdom. Chriſt is the great Counſellor, The Wiſdom of God, He hath the SpiritIſa. 9. 6. of Wiſdom and Underſtanding. When1 Cor. 1. 24. Iſa. 11. 2. Troubles befall us, we wander up and down like Noahs Dove, finding no reſt for the Sole of her Foot, till Noah took her into the Ark. We in our Afflictions uſe to go from Creature to Creature, and Conſult with Fleſh and Blood; like Squirrils, we leap from Bough to Bough, or like curious Palates, Taſt of all Waters, and try all manner of Projects; hence it comes to paſs, that we miſcarry by many ſad Diſapointments and Fruſtrations. How dreadful a Woe is threatned againſt them, who take not Counſel of God, Iſa. 30. 1. Woe to the Rebellious Children (ſaith the Lord) that take Counſel, but not of Me, and that cover with a covering, but not of my Spirit, that they may add Sin to Sin. There's a grand Curſe alſo threatned in Ezekiel, That the Law ſhall Periſh from the Prieſt, Ezek. 7. 26.and Counſel from the Ancients. Here then conſiſts our great Duty, amidſt Troubles and Sufferings, to learn to deny our own Wiſdome, our own Reaſon and Counſel, and whatſoever is ſelfiſh in us, neither any more to ſacrifice to our own Net and Drag; but to rely, depend, and wholly lean, and ſtay our ſelves upon the Wiſdom of God. Solomon fullyProv. 3. 5. 6, 7, 8. preſcribes our Duty in ſeveral choice, and excellent Leſſons: Truſt in the Lord with all thine Heart, and lean not unto thine own Underſtanding: In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He ſhall direct thy Paths: |Ne in tua teipſum ſapientia contemplari velis. Eam elige diſciplinam in quam cum inſpicias non ta… teipſum quam Deum ipſum intuearis.Be not Wiſe in thine own Eyes: Fear the Lord, and depart from Evil. It ſhall be Health to thy Navel, and Marrow to thy Bones.
I proceed to another Inſtance, drawn from the Power of God. The Power and Omnipotency of God, abundantly prove His All-Sufficiency. This Attribute of Power, & Omnipotency is the Stronghold of all Gods Children: This is their2. Attribute, viz. The Power of God. Shield, Buckler, Deliverer, what not! It's all in all: And the Power, and Omnipotency of God, is a Terror to the Wicked, to cruſh them to peices, and to deſtroy them utterly. God is the Univerſal, Omnipotent Soveraign Lord, and Commander over the whole World. Bildad ſpeaks a great Deal in ſo ſhortJob 25. 2. a Chapter. Dominion and Fear are with him, &c. God hath all Power in his Hand, and can put it forth, more or leſs, when, and where he pleaſeth. All the Granaries, Treaſures, Magazines, and Fortifications; All the Cattle on a Thouſand Mountains, are at the ſole command, & diſpoſing of the Soveraign Lord, and Governour of Heaven and Earth. God gives one Creature, a Commiſſion to help another; God knows ſuch an one to be in ſore diſtreſs; and he ſaith, go Creature, Relieve, Refreſh, and Comfort ſuch a One; he is my Servant. Another is in great danger, of being Rob'd, Murthered, or Drowned, as he is a Travelling: God ſends his Angel to preſerve him: |Ingens Bonitas Dei & cura paterna erga Eccleſiam deſcribitur, quod tales nobis Preſides adjungit Molles. Angeli ſunt Domeſtici Dei caeli cives. Bern.And how much we ought to give God thanks for the Miniſtry of Angels; how few of us are ſenſible! Likewiſe the Hearts of all Men are at Gods Command, even the Hearts of the greateſt Kings are at Gods Command:Prov. 21. 1. As the Rivers of Water, he turneth them whitherſoever he will. The Hearts of inveterate and implacable Enemies, are new Molded, and Wrought on effectually by the Power of God. Amongſt others, that's a pregnant inſtance in Eſau, in whoſe Heart lodged an old grudg of Twenty Years ſtanding, againſt his Brother Jacob. And it ſeems very probable, that when he came to meet Jacob with Four Hundred Men, that he had in his Heart Rancor and Malice; and his Intentions were as Miſchiveous, as Jacob feared, to deſtroy The Mother and Gen. 32. 11.the Children. Yet God, who hath the Hearts of the worſt of Enemies in his Hand, affected the Heart of Eſau, and melted it into Tears; we Read Gen. 33. 4. And Eſau ran to meet Him, and embrac'd Him, and fell on his Neck, and kiſſed Him, and they Wept. Hence that Proverb of Solomon is an Experimental Truth, that, When a Mans ways pleaſe Prov. 16. 7.the Lord, he maketh even his Enemies to be at Peace with him. The beſt way to obtain Friendſhip with Men, is firſt to make God our Friend. The Duty mainly incumbent on us all, is to believe Gods Omnipotency, and ſtay, and depend thereupon. Thus let's argue from what hath been done by the AlmightyGen. 1. 3, 4. Power of God. In the Creation, God brought Light out of Darkneſs, Order out of a Chaos of Confuſion. God madeExod. 14. 22. the Red-Sea to become Dry-land, and paſſable for the Iſraelites, but the Sea returned to his ſtrength, and overthrew the Egyptians in the midſt thereof. God ver. 27▪cauſed the Flinty-Rock, to become a Springing-Well, to quench the Thirſt of the Iſraelites. God fed them by aNumb. 20. 11. Exod. 16. 13, 14. Deut. 25. 9. Judg. 15. 19. Joſh. 10. 13. 2 King. 20. 11. 2 King. 7. 16. Miracle, with Quailes and Manna: God Cloathed them by a Miracle, in that the ſame Cloaths laſted Forty Years together. God caus'd the Jaw-bone of an Aſs to pour out Water, to quench the Thirſt of Samſon. God caus'd the Sun to ſtand ſtill at Joſhuas prayer, and return back upon Hezekiahs Prayer. God caus'd plenty in Samaria (beyond all expectation of Man) after a ſore and grievous Famine. From all theſe InſtancesPotens Deus eſt cauſam ſuam libenter ſervare, lapſam erigere: ſi nos digni non erimus, fiat per alios. Melct. Adam in vita Luther. we may certainly conclude, that the ſame Omnipotent Lord God Reigneth. His power is no whit diminiſhed; he hath helped, and is able to help. This Inſtance of the Power of God abundantly proves his All-Sufficiency, and ſhould be a ground3 Attribute of Mercy. of ſingular Support, and Comfort unto all the Children of God.
I proceed to a Third Inſtance drawn from the Attribute of Mercy. God is abundant in Goodneſs and Mercy: He is Merciful, Gracious, Long-Suffering. MercyMicah 7. 18. Pſal. 25. 10. … ▪ ſal. 103. 8. Eph. 2. 4. Pſal. 145. 9. Iſa. 16. 11. Pſal. 68. 5. Pſal. 103. 13. Iſa. 63. 9. is Gods Delight. All his Paths are Mercy. He is ſlow to Anger, and plenteous in Mercy. His Mercies are rich Mercies, tender Mercies, they are over all his Works. They are ſo many as they exceed all Number for Multitude: They are ſo great, as they exceed all Dimenſions for Magnitude. The Lord by an foreign declares the Sounding of his Bowels; His Fatherly pitty and compaſſion, and a ſympathy, and fellow-feeling with us in our Afflictions, Iſa. 63. 9. In all their Afflictions, he was Afflicted, and the Angel of his Preſence ſaved them: in his Love, and in his Pitty he redeemed them, and he bare them, and carried them all the Days of Old. And who this was, ſee ver. 1. O! How did the Bowels of Chriſt Yearn over thoſe that were in Affliction! He had Compaſſion towards a fainting Multitude, and Fed them. He had Compaſſion on the DiſeaſedJoh. 11. 35. Luke 19. 41. Heb. 4. 15. People, he Healed them. He Wept for Lazarus; he Wept over Jeruſalem; And now he is in Heaven, he is Touched with the feeling of our infirmities. From what hath been mentioned, we may conclude, That Gods Mercy moves him to afford ſeaſonable Helps, Supplies, and Succours, unto his People, when they are involved in the greateſt Straits and Difficulties: God is a Preſent Pſal. 46. 1. Gen. 22. 14.help in the needful time of Trouble. In the Mount the Lord will be ſeen: The Proverb is no more common than true, That Mans Extremity is Gods Opportunity. When Hagars Bottle of Water was ſpent, and ſhe, and her Son likeGen. 21. 19. to have periſhed with Thirſt; then the Lord opened her Eyes, and ſhewed her a Well of Water. When Egypts FlowerJoſh. 5. 12. was ſpent, and when Manna ceaſed, then the Children of Iſrael did Eat of the Fruit of the Land of Canaan. When the Widdow of Zaraphath had left only for her ſelf and Son, to keep them a little while alive, a handful of Meal in a Barrel, and a little Oyl in a Cruſe; then the Lord ſent the Prophet Elijah with a comfortable Meſſage, 1 King. 17. 14, 15, 16. Thus ſaith the Lord God of Iſrael, The Barrel of Meal ſhall not waſt, neither ſhall the Cruſe of Oyl fail, until the Day that the Lord ſendeth Rain upon the Earth. And ſhe went, and did according to the ſaying of Elijah; and▪ ſhe, and he, and her Houſe did Eat many Days. And the Barrel of Meal waſted not, neither did the Cruſe of Oyl fail, according to the Word of the Lord, which he ſpake by Elijah. When Gods People have been in ſuch great Straits, as not knowing where to turn, or how to help themſelves out of them; then ſome ſignal Mercy hath appeared for their Deliverance. In Deut. 32. 36. there's a gracious Promiſe, and there's a real performance thereof, 2 King. 14. 26, 27. For the Lord ſaw the Affliction of Iſrael, that it was very Bitter: for there was not any ſhut up, nor any left, nor any helper for Iſrael. And the Lord ſaid, not that he would blot out the Name of Iſrael from under Heaven: But he Saved them by the Hand of Jereboam the Son of Joaſh. Add hereunto another promiſe, ſuitable to the former, Iſa. 33. 9, 10. The Earth Mourneth and Languiſheth: Lebanon is aſhamed, and hewn down: Sharon is …ike a Wilderneſs, and Baſhan, and Carmel ſhake off their Fruits. Now will I riſe ſaith the Lord; now will I be exalted; now will I lift up my ſelf. And David experimentally acknowledges the truth of God's Promiſes, Pſal. 136. 23. |Iſta ob id commemoravit admoneamur quam non obliviſcatur ſuorum Deus, qui tribulationibus o… primuntur, ſed ubi tempeſtivum eſt e, manibus illos inimicorum ſuor…m afferat & eripiat. Muſc. in loc.who remembred us in our low Eſtate. For his Mercy endureth for Ever.
Let's then ſtand admiring, and adoring the riches of Mercy, the multitude of tender Mercies, the Bowels wide opened of a gracious and compaſſionate Father. God ſtands by his People in their Swooning Fits, and gives them his ſweet Cordials and Reſtoratives. He is with them in Priſon, and gives them inlargement of Spirit. |Sanctorum pr… ces caelum & terram concutiunt Beza. Hinc colligimus quam conſtanter animati fuerint ad crucem ferendam Calv. in Loc. Dan. 3. 25.The Apoſtles,Act. 16. 25. Paul and Silas Prayed, and ſang Praiſes in a Priſon. Communion with God, reviv'd and rais'd their Spirits, even when their Feet were made faſt in the Stocks. God was with the Three Children in the hot fiery Furnace; Three were only caſt into the Furnace, but the King ſaw Four, and he acknowledged that the Form of the Fourth, was like the Son of God. Daniel had an Angel in the Lyons Den for his Companion; and he was ſent from God, to ſhut the Lyons Mouth. What ſhall I add further? We live upon Mercies every Moment, and have freſh experiences of renewed loving Kindneſſes. Each Step we Tread, whether at home or abroad▪ each Work we go about, each bit of Bread we Eat, each Bed we Lie on, each Journey we Travel: All theſe cry aloud, and proclaim the Mercies of God. And ſo wonderful is the Mercy of God, as he condeſcends to our Infirmities, and applieth himſelf with all gentleneſs to our reſpective Conditions: Two places I ſhall only mention as a full proof thereof; one is Iſa. 40. 11. He ſhall Feed his Flock like a Shepherd; he ſhall gather the Lambs with his Arm, and carry the… in his Boſome, and ſhall gently lead thoſe that are with Young. The other is Mat. 12. 20. |Donec rectam & veram Evangelii doctrinam docuerit ad vincendum hoſtes, ut expugnet eos-Vatabl. 4. Attribute of TruthA bruiſed Reed ſhall he not break, and ſmoaking Flax ſhall he not quench, till he ſend forth Judgment unto Victory. By what hath been ſaid of the Mercy of God; we ſhould be perſwaded to rely, and depend on God's All-Sufficiency.
A Fourth Inſtance I ſhall produce, is the Attribute of God's Truth, and this is ingaged for the Aſſiſtance of his Servants, and for the Deſtruction of his, and their Adverſaries. Although nothing is impoſſible to God, and he can do all things; yet it no whit detracts1 Tit. 2. 2. Tim. 2. 13. from Gods Omnipotency, to ſay, He cannot Lie, he cannot deny himſelf. God never was, and never will be one tittle worſe than his Word; not an foreign of his Word ſhall fail. God Gloryeth inExod. 34. 6. Pſal. 146. 6. Pſal. 111. 5. Heb. 10. 23. this, that he is Abundant in Goodneſs and Truth, that he keepeth Truth for ever; that he will be ever mindful of his Covenant: And that he is faithful that hath Promiſed. Balaam, though a mercenary Prophet, gives herein a faithful Teſtimony, Numb. 23. 19. God is not a Man that he ſhould Lye, neither the Son of Man, that he ſhould Repent; hath he ſaid, and ſhall he not do it; or hath he …poken, and ſhall he not make it Good? After Nebuchadnezzer was reſtored to his underſtanding, and former dignity, he of his own accord made this Confeſſion, |Dan. 4. 37.That all the Works of God are Truth. Here then conſiſts our great Duty, to rely and ſtay upon the Truth of God. Hath not God ſaid in his holyIſa. 3. 10. 11. Word, Say ye to the Righteous, that it ſhall be well with him; for they ſhall Eat the Fruit of their Doings. Woe to the Wicked, it ſhall be ill with him, for the reward of his Hands ſhall be given him. Is it not likewiſe a part of the ſame Truth of God, Recorded by the Wiſe Man? Though (ſaith he) a Sinner do Evil an Eccleſ. 8. 12. 13.Hundred times, and his Days be prolonged; yet ſurely, I know it ſhall be well with them that fear God, which fear before him. But it ſhall not be well with the Wicked, neither ſhall he prolong his Days, which are as a Shadow; becauſe he feareth not before God. Add hereunto, that which is mentioned by the laſt (but not the leaſt) of the Prophets Malachi. For behold the Mal. 4. 1, 2, 3.Day cometh, that ſhall Burn as an Oven, and all the Proud; yea, and all that do Wickedly ſhall be Stubble, and the Day that cometh ſhall burn them up, ſaith the Lord of Hoſts, It ſhall leave them neither Root nor Branch. But unto you that fear my Name, ſhall the Sun of Righteouſneſs ariſe with Healing in his Wings; and ye ſhall go forth, and grow up as *Significat proprie multiplicari, augeri. L. de. Dieu. foreign verterunt 70.Calves of the Stall. And ye ſhall Tread down the Wicked; for they ſhall be Aſhes under the Soles of your Feet, in the Day that I ſhall do this, ſaith the Lord of Hoſts. The God of Truth, even God who is Truth it ſelf, hath ſaid it; wherefore we muſt not be curiouſly inquiſitive after the preciſe time when, no… Diſpute how theſe things ſhall be Accompliſhed. Without queſtion, all theſe things ſhall be punctually fulfulled in their Seaſon: Wherefore let us Believe, Rely, and Acquieſce upon the word of a faithful Covenant keeping God. He will bring his own work to paſs in his own Way, and Time, to his own Glory.
A Fifth (and the laſt Attribute I ſhall5. Attribute of Unchange ableneſs. Inſtance in) is the Unchangeableneſs of God. It's Evident that Men change, Times and Cuſtomes change: There's a Viciſſitude, and Revolution of all SublunaryQuis no… diverſa preſe…tibus, contrariaque expectatis aut ſperet aut timeat. Vell. Paterz. things: Moſt true is that of Solomon, One Generation paſſeth away, Eccleſ. 1. 4. Omnis ſubita Mutatio rerum non ſine quodam quaſi fluctu contingit animorum. Boeth. l. de conſol. Phil. l.and another Generation cometh. Archimedes, that great Mathematician gloried that he would move the whole Earth, if he might have a place aſſigned him, where he might fix his Engine. His ſaying was foreign Give me where I may ſtand. Where ſome Men now a days will go, and how far (whoſe Principle is Self-intereſt) when, and where they will fix and ſtand, neither can we, nor they themſelves Determine. They ring Changes, and comply with all times and humors; Yet notwithſtanding, allforeign. Damaſc. Pſal. 102. 27. Mal. 3. 6. Heb. 13. 8. Heb. 9. 4. James 1. 4. foreign. the changes of Creatures have no influence upon the Creator, as to change him with their Changes. Damaſcene obſerves that Whatſoever is Created, is ſubject to Changes; But the uncreated, Eternal God is Unchangeable. He is the ſame, and his Years ſhall have no end. He changeth not, Chriſt is unchangeable, and the Holy Ghoſt is unchangeable. Therefore, amongſt the changeable fluctuating conditions of the preſent World; We ſhould found our Comfort upon this Principle, That we ſerve an unchangeable God, with whom there is no |Metaphora eſt a Sole qui eſt variis nubium obumbrationibus obnoxius, Nihil hujus in Deo eſt. Pareus.variableneſs, nor ſhadow of turning. Heavenly Bodies have Parallaxes, but there is no ſuch thing … God. Friends, ſuch in whom we have put greatJob. 6. 15. confidence, prove perfidious, and are like that deceitful Brook, mentioned by Job. Riches, they fail, and are on theProv. 23. 5. Wing, as ſwift as an Eagle: And no Man of Underſtanding, will reckon upon his great Riches, becauſe he ſeeth ſo many Eagles flying in the Air. There's a Story which I have Read in Aelian: Aelian var. hiſt.That there was a Fool in Athens, who laughed, and expreſſed great Joy, when any Ship came into the Harbor, becauſe he was poſſeſt with a Fancy, that every Ship that Arrived there, was his own. Is it not as great folly and madneſs, for a Man to account himſelf the Richer, becauſe he ſeeth the Landing of many Ships richly Laden with variety of Merchandize, when as he hath no Share nor Intereſt in any one of them? Riches are things which are not, and to ſet ones Heart upon nothing, even that, which oft times proves worſe than nothing, by reaſon of many fruſtrations and vexations, muſt needs be an exceeding great madneſs and folly. Riches are not in our power to get them. It's Gods Bleſſing that maketh Rich, neither is it in our power (when they are got) to keep them. |Quid ſunt res humanae? Cinis, pulvis, fumus, umbra, folia cadent…a, flos, Somnium, fabula, ventus, aer, penna mobilis, …da de…urrens, & fi quid iſtis inferius. Chriſoſt. Hom. 9. ad Heb.No Man can hold the T…e when it comes, nor ſtop an Arrow ſhot out of a Bow; nor hinder the Motion of the Sun; no more can any Man hold faſt theſe ſublunary things: None can keep Riches ſure and ſtable, and make them laſt to Eternity: For under the Sun is nothing of a durable Subſtance: If we deſire that which is durable, and never fading, we muſt ſeek for it in Heaven; it's not to be had here below.
Further to inſtance in honours, promotions, and the preferments of the World: They that have moſt of them, are oft times by the revolutious of times made ſenſible that they poſſeſs a very ſlippery ſtanding; So that †Nunquid in honore ſine dolore, in praelatione ſine turbatione, in Sublimitate ſine vanitate quis eſſe poteſt. Bern. in Teſt. Nicholai. Serm.Honours are oft times burthens, and objects of envy and malice, and many are the machinations, for ſupplanting, and undermining the poſſeſſours of them. Have we not frequently ſeen many great Perſonages degraded, and deveſted of their Robes? have not their Honours lain in the duſt? Haman in ſacred Story, is a ſignal example of Honours uncertainty. And forraign Hiſtorys of Andronicus, Bajazet, Bellizarius, our own Engliſh Hiſtory of Wolſey and others, give abundant teſtimony of this Truth, That Honours are tranſient fading uncertain things. And what are promotions and high places, (though many are ſo eager, and greedy in the purſuit after them, and often times for the attaining of them, make Shipwrack of Faith, and a good Conſcience) What are they better (I ſay) than aFicta omnia celeriter decidunt, nec Simulatum poteſt quicquam eſſ… diuturnum. Cic. L. 2. Off. vid. Bp. Morton of Ezekiels Wheels. Muſhrome, or a Jonah's Gourd, which in one Night had its Original, and Period? Seſoſtris Wheels turning that ſpoke lowermoſt, which was erſt while uppermoſt, are an embleme of the frequent revolutions of all things in the Univerſe. I ſhall conclude this particular with that infallible Teſtimony of the Pſalmiſt, Pſal. 75. 6, 7, 8. For promotion cometh neither from the Eaſt, nor from the Weſt, nor from the South. But God is the Judge, he putteth down one, and ſetteh up another. For in the Hand of the Lord is a Cup, and the Wine is Red, it is full of Mixture, and he poureth out of the ſame: but the Dregs thereof, all the Wicked of the Earth ſhall wring them out, and drink them. And to ſecure, ſupport, and preſerve us ſafe, amidſt the worſt of Changes, I ſhall mention two or three eſtabliſhing Scriptures: one is Pſal. 73. 26. My Fleſh, and my Heart, faileth; but God is the Strength of my Heart, and my Portion for ever: Another is Pſal. 89. 43. I will not ſuffer my Faithfulneſs to fail. A third, is Heb. 13. 5. |foreign.I will never leave thee, nor forſake thee. Here then we may be preſerved from danger, by relying on theſe promiſes: And ifFive negatives which more vehemently deny. Fieri non poteſt ut te abjiciam plane, aut etiam ad tempus deſeram Grot. any danger come, then here is a Shield to ward of Blows, Here's a cordial, a ſtay, and a ſtaff, a reſtorative and ſupporter; when we ſeriouſly conſider, that notwithſtanding changes, failings, diſappointments, and treacheries, which we meet with from Creatures, yet our Creator is unchangeable: And his immutability is a Fort-Royal, an invincible Bulwark, and a Rock impregnable, unto all true Believers.