§. 97. Of Gods providing for ungratefull ones.
IT was shewed in the beginning of the former Section, that the Greek word translated a 1.1 proved, signifieth also to discern, and by experience to finde a thing to be so and so. A Noun derived from thence signifieth b 1.2 experience, (Rom. 5. 4.) and experiment (2 Cor. 9. 13.) and proof of a thing, 2 Cor. 2. 9. & 13. 3. Here it may intend, that by their tempting of God, they came to have a real and experimental proof of Gods Power, Providence, and other Divine Excellen∣cies.
Observe the particular instances noted in the former Section of their tempting God, and you shall finde extraordinary proofs and experiments of Gods extraor∣dinary Providence. Thereupon a path was made in the Sea (Exod. 14. 22.) bitter waters were made sweet (Exod. 15. 25.) Manna and Quails were given (Exod. 16. 12.) Water flowed out of the Rock (Exod. 17. 6.) The brazen Serpent was ere∣cted (Numb. 21. 8.) and sundry other great works done.
God doth this in reference to Himself, to the Upright, and to the Un∣gratefull.* 1.3
- 1. God doth hereby commend unto us his free Grace, his abundant Kindenesse, and his great Patience, and much Forbearance. Herein is verified that which Christ said of his Father, That he is kinde unto the unthankefull, and unto the evil, Luke 6. 35.
- 2. There were some upright and faithfull mixed with the multitude of incredu∣lous and rebellious Israelites: as Moses, Aaron, Hur, Caleb, Ioshua, and others: Whereof, though many of them, for some particular sins, entered not into Ca∣naan, yet were they accepted and approved by God; for their sakes God gave common proofs of his Providence, promiscuously to all of all sorts. Had there been ten righteous ones found in Sodom, both that and the other Cities about it might have been preserved from the fire and brimstone that destroyed them, Gen. 18. 32. For Iehoshaphats sake, God extraordinarily provided water to preserve the Armies of three Kings, 2 King. 3. 14. The whole world receiveth much good for the sake of the Elect and upright that are therein.
- 3. God in bestowing blessing upon the incredulous and rebellious, affordeth thereby external means to reclaim them: but they by their obstinacy against those means, make themselves the more inexcusable, and increase their just condemnati∣on the more, Rom. 2. 1, 4, 5.
This kindenesse of God so far manifested to those rebellious Israelites, is a sure* 1.4 ground of encouragement to Gods faithfull and upright servants, to seek and ex∣pect all needfull blessing from him in all their needs and straits. Are not the faith∣full much better then the faithlesse? If God so fed, cloathed, preserved, protected and directed incredulous, and unbelieving persons, what will he not do for his E∣lect effectually called, who in faith call upon him? Mat. 6. 26, 30. Luk. 18. 7.