[ 754] To trust in God, who is the great Lord Protector of his people.
THere is an excellent story of a young man,* 1.1, that was at Sea in a mighty ra∣ging tempest; and when all the passengers were at their wits end for fear, he onely was merry; and when he was asked the reason of his mirth, he answered, That the Pilot of the ship was his father, and he knew his father would have a care of him. The great and wise God, who is our Father, hath from all eternity decreed, what shall be the issue of all wars, what the event of all troubles: He is our Pilot, he fits at the stern; and though the Ship of the Church or State be in a sinking condi∣tion, yet be of good comfort, our Pilot will have a care of us. There is nothing done in the lower house of Parliament on earth, but what is first decreed in the higher House in Heaven. All the lesser wheeles are ordered and overruled by the upper. Are not five sparrowes (saith Christ) sold for a farthing?* 1.2 One sparrow is not worth half a farthing. And there's no man shall have half a farthing's worth of harm, more than God hath decreed from all eternity.