Gods three arrovves plague, famine, svvord, in three treatises. I. A plaister for the plague. II. Dearths death. III. The Churches conquest over the sword. By William Gouge Doctor in Divinity, and preacher of Gods Word in Black-Friers, London.

§. 21. Of using meanes.

VII. * 1.1 APproved meanes are to be used for attaining our desired ends. The parables which our Lord useth about providing that which may be sufficient for an intended building, and about casting how to meet an ene∣my that is comming against him, (Luke 14. 28, &c.) give good evidence to the truth of this point. Wherefore such Saints as have beene guided by the Spirit of God, even in those wars whereabout God himselfe hath sent them, and to which he hath given assurance of victory, have been care∣full to use meanes. For this end b 1.2 Ioshua required all the men of warre that were of the Reubenites, Gadites, and halfe the Tribe of Manasseh, that quietly enjoyed their possessi∣ons on the other side of Iordan, to go over before the rest of the Israelites, armed to helpe them. On the contrary c 1.3 Meroz is cursed for not affording aid to helpe the Lord against the mighty. The meanes * 1.4 before noted for keeping out enemies tend to the point in hand.

Of such use are means, as if they be wanting, God will not do the thing that is expected to be done. Though d 1.5 God had given to Paul all that sailed with him, yet when the mariners

(who are ordinary meanes to advise, and helpe in dangers on the sea) were about to leave the ship, Paul said, except these abide ye cannot be safe. So as ordinarily there is a kind of necessity that meanes be used. Yea we oft read of meanes used in extraordinary matters. e 1.6 The dust of the earth was strucke, that out of it lice might arise to plague Pharaoh. f 1.7 Ashes of the fornace were sprinkled into the aire to cause boiles to breake forth upon man and beast in Egypt. g 1.8 The rocke was struck with a staffe to make water flow out of it. h 1.9 Meale was cast into the pot, to make the pottage whol∣some.

The use of meanes makes much to the manifestation * 1.10

• 1. Of Gods providence, in affording meet means.
• 2. Of his wisdome, in ordering means fitly.
• 3. Of his goodnesse, in blessing means.

And thus more occasion is given of calling upon God for his blessing on the means which are used: and of praising him when we see the fruit and benefit of means: yea and of humiliation when we observe means to be wanting, or to be ineffectuall.

1. Ob. i 1.11 There is no restraint to the Lord to save by many or by few, and k 1.12 by them that have no power.

Answ. 1. In speaking of meanes no question is made of Gods power. For he that without any means made all things, can do what els pleaseth him without means. But the question is of his will; whether he that hath sanctified such and such means, for such and such purposes, will effect matters without the means which he hath appointed for ef∣fecting them.

2. The question is of Gods ordinary manner of working. Now Gods ordinary providence in ordinary matters is the ground of our faith, rather then his extraordinary power.

2. Ob. l 1.13 God restrained Gideon in using the means that in his case were ordinarily used.

Answ. The Lord tieth not himselfe to ordinary courses, * 1.14 as he hath tied his creatures, who can not go beyond the bounds which he hath appointed to them. So as herein

lieth a difference betwixt the Creatour and creatures. For the manifestation of this difference it pleased God somtimes to do great matters with small meanes, (yea and m 1.15 with no meanes at all,) and to cause those particulars to be recor∣ded, that all ages might know what of himselfe he is able to do.

3. Ob. Means use to draw mens minds from God: and * 1.16 to make them dote too much on means.

Answ. That is the abuse of means. Means are by such considered onely in themselves, and not in the principall agent who makes them effectuall. Such were the Israelites, to whom the Prophet thus, n 1.17 Woe to them that go downe to Egypt for helpe, and stay on horses, and trust in chariots because they are many, and in horsemen because they are very strong: but they looke not unto the holy one of Israel, neither seeke the Lord. Thus they severed things, which were to be joyned together, God and means: means being the hand of the di∣vine providence whereby he worketh such and such things. * 1.18 Means therefore (in the right use of them) give occasion of beholding God, of calling on him, and praising him. Daily food, apparell, sleepe, works of our calling, and other like meanes wherby we are sustained, work such effects in those that are piously minded. Wherefore though we believe in God, yet let us do those things that are to be done by man for our safety, lest letting slip such means we may seeme to tempt God.

It will therefore be our wisdome in every thing that we take in hand,

• 1. To observe what means are warranted for the effe∣cting * 1.19 thereof. Out of Gods Word we may have sufficient direction in this case.
• 2. To be diligent in using those means. Many pro∣mises * 1.20 are made to the diligent, especially in Salomons Proverbs.
• 3. * 1.21 To call on God for his blessing on our endeavors. Ex∣cept the Lord keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vaine. To neglect means is an extreme in the defect, implying too

• great security. To relie only on means is an extreme in the excesse, implying too much insolency. God is tempted both waies. The middle therefore is the best and safest course, which is, in the use of meanes to relie on God for his blessing.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Sec §. 9.
• b 1.2

  Ios. 1. 12, &c.
• c 1.3

  Iudg 5. 23.
• * 1.4

  §. 12.
• d 1.5

  Acts 27. 24, 31
• e 1.6

  Exo. 8. 17.
• f 1.7

  —9. 8, 10.
• g 1.8

  —17. 6.
• h 1.9

  2 King 4. 41.
• * 1.10

  Gods glory in the use of meanes.
• i 1.11

  1 Sam. 14. 6.
• k 1.12

  2 Chro. 14, 11 Meanes have respect to Gods will.
• l 1.13

  Iudg. 7. 2, 4.
• * 1.14

  God not tied to meanes.
• m 1.15

  Exo. 17. 28.
• * 1.16

  Abuse of means.
• n 1.17

  Isa. 31. 1.
• * 1.18

  Quamvis creda∣mus in Deum, faciamus tamen quae facienda sunt ab homini∣bus in praesidium salutis, ne praeter∣mittentes ea Deum tentare videamur. Aug. Quaest super Gen l 1. c. 102.
• * 1.19

  Rules for using means.
• * 1.20

  Pro. 10 4.—12. 11.
• * 1.21

  Sec §. 27. Psal. 127. 1.