§. 161. Of Gods putting difference betwixt different persons.
THis negative clause, a 1.1 not all, being inferred upon the affirmative with this con∣junction of opposition, b 1.2 BUT, further shews that God in mixed multitudes can put difference betwixt persons that differ.
Though the persons comprised under the restrictive particle c 1.3 some, before men∣tioned, were a very great multitude; and these comprised under this negative, not all, were very few in comparison, yet God who took notice of that multitude, did also take speciall notice of these few. In such a case as this, it is said, that they that feared the Lord, spake often one to another, and the Lord harkned and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before him, for them that feared the Lord, and thought upon his name: and they shall be mine, saith the Lord, in the day that I make up my jewels, Mal. 3. 16, 17. When the Lord sent a destroyer through the midst of Ierusalem, he commanded to set a mark upon the foreheads of the men that sighed, &c. Ezek. 9. 4. An Apostle giveth three instances hereof, which are as famous as ever the world afforded. One is of the difference that God put betwixt the Angels that stood, and them that fell. The other is of the difference he put betwixt Noahs fa∣mily, and the old world. The third is of a like difference betwixt Lot and the peo∣ple of Sodom and Gomorrah. Hereupon this conclusion is inferred, The Lord know∣eth how to deliver the godly out of Temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgement to be punished, 2 Pet. 2. 4, &c.
The eyes of the Lord are in every place, beholding the evil and the good, Pro. 15. 3. As he hath an all-seeing eye; so also he hath a perfect discerning Spirit, whose fan is in his hand, and he will throughly purge his floor, &c. Matth. 3. 12.
This is a great comfort and incouragement to such as are forced to complain as David did, Psal. 120. 5. Wo is me that I sojourn in Mesech, that I dwell in the tents of Kedar. And as another Prophet, Wo is me, for I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips, Isa. 6. 5. Though we live among such, God will not wrap us in the number of such: especially if we remain upright, as Noah did, Gen. 6. 9. And righteous, as Lot did, 2 Pet. 2. 8. Such are as precious stones; though they be in a heap of rubbish, God can and will finde them out. God will not cast away the precious with the vile. God sees those whom man cannot see. When Elijah thought there had been none left but himself, the Lord discerned that there were seven thousand in Israel, which had not bowed their knee to Baal, 1 King. 19. 18.