§. 93. Of the Wildernesse as a place wherein the Israelites were brought to great straits.
AS the wildernesse was considered in the former §, a place of Gods extraor∣dinary providence and goodness: So it may be also considered as a place wherein the Israelites were oft brought to great straits: and yet that did not excuse* 1.1 their sinne in tempting God. For by their tempting God in the Wildernesse, they provoked him: So as straits and distresses are not sufficient excuses of tempting God. We ought not to doubt of Gods Providence, or of his Power, or of his Good∣nesse, or of any of his Divine Attributes, because we are in want, or in any other strait. The Devil took an oceasion from Christs being fourty dayes in the wilder∣nesse, to sollicit him to use an indirect course for providing sustenance to himself: but Christ refused so to do, Matth. 4. 3, 4. If thou faint in the day of adversity, thy strength is small, Prov. 24. 10. The day of adversity is the time for a man to mani∣fest his courage: to faint then, when he should shew most courage, argues little or no courage.
Gods Power and Providence is not straitned by mens straits: He can work as it* 1.2 pleaseth him, without means, as in creating all things; or with means, and those ordinary, which are comprized under daily bread, Mat. 6. 11. or extraordinary: And that
- 1. In the kinde, Exod. 16. 15.
- 2. In the quantity, as the little meal in the barel, and oyl in the cruse nourished Elijah, a widow, and her family a long time, 1 Kin. 17. 16.
- 3. In the quality: as course pulse nourished Daniel, and his companions, as well as the daintiest meat that a King could afford, Dan. 1. 12, &c.
- 4. In the manner of getting: as a Raven was Elijahs cater to provide him bread and meat morning and evening, 1 King. 17. 6.
Yea God can preserve by contrary means: for Ionah was preserved