A Christian library, or, A pleasant and plentiful paradise of practical divinity in 37 treatises of sundry and select subjects ... / by R. Younge ...

CHAP. 1. Why the Lord suffers his children to be so traduced, and persecuted, by his and their enemies: and first, That it makes for the glory of his power.

IN the former * 1.1 Treatise, I have proved that there is a naturall enmity and a spirituall An∣tipathy between the Men of the World, and the children of GOD; between the seed of the Serpent, and the seed of the Woman. And that these two Regiments being the Subjects of two severall Kings, Satan and C••rist, are governed by Laws opposite and clean contrary each to the other; whereby it comes to passe, that grievous temptations and persecu∣tions do alwayes accompany the remission of sins: That all men (as Au∣stine speaks) are necessitated to miseries, which bend their course towards the Kingdom of Heaven. For godlinesse and temptation are such insepa∣rable attendants on the same person, that a mans sins be no sooner forgi∣ven, and he rescued from Satan, but that Lion fomes and roares, and be∣stirs himselfe to recover his losse. Neither can Gods love be enjoyed, without Satans disturbance. Yea, the World and the Devil therefore hate us, because God hath chosen us. If a Convert comes home, the Angels welcome him with Songs, the Devils follow him with uproar and fury, his old acquaintance with scorns and obloquie; for they think it quarrel enough that we will no longer run with them to the same excess of riot. 1 Pet. 4.4. That we will no longer continue miserable with them: they envy to see themselves cashiered, as persons infected with the plague, will scoff at such of their acquaintance, as refuse to consort with them as they have done formerly.

It is not enough for them to be bad themselves, except they rail at, and persecute the good. He that hath no grace himself, is vexed to see it in ano∣ther: godly men are thorns in wicked mens eyes, as Iob was in the Devils; because they are good, or because they are deerly beloved of God: If a mans person and wayes please God, the world will be displeased with both: If God be a mans friend; that will be his enemy, if they exercise their malice, it is where he shews mercy: and indeed he refuseth to be an Abel, whom the malice of Cain doth not exercise (as Gregory speaks;) for it is an ever∣lasting rule of the Apostles, He that is born after the flesh, will persecute him that is born after the Spirit, Gal. 4.29. not because he is evil, but be∣cause he is so much better then himself, 1 John 3.12. Because his life is not like other mens, his wayes are of another fashion. Wisdom 2.15.

I have also * 1.2 shewed the Original, continuance, properties, causes, ends, and what will be the issue of this enmity; and therein made it plain, that as for the present they suit like the Harp and the Harrow, agree like two poysons in one stomack the one being ever sick of the other: so, to reconcile them toge∣ther, were to reconcile Fire and Water, the Wolfe and the Lambe, the Windes and the Sea together; yea, that once to expect it, were an effect of frenzie, not of hope.

It remains in the last place, that I declare the Reasons why

• God permits his dearest children so to be afflicted.
• The godly are so patient in their sufferings. With other grounds of comfort and Vses: and first of the first.

The Reasons why God suffers the same, are chiefly sixteen; all tending to his glory, and their spiritual and everlasting good, benefit and advan∣tage: for the malignity of envy (if it be well answered) is made the e∣vil cause of a good effect to us; God and our souls are made gainers by anothers sin.

The Reasons and Ends which tend to Gods glory are three;

• 1 It makes for the glory of his Power,
• 2 It makes for the glory of his Wisdom,
• 3 It makes much for his glory, when those graces which he hath bestowed upon his children, do the more shine through employment.

It makes for the glory of his power: Moses having declared in what manner the Lord permitted Pharaoh to oppress the children of Is∣rael, more and more, still hardning his heart; shews the reason of it in these words, That I may multiply my miracles and wonders in the land of Egypt, That I may lay my hand upon Pharaoh, and bring out mine Armies, even my people by great judgements, that my power may be known, and that I may declare my Name throughout all the World, Exod. 7.3, 4. & 9.16.

When that multitude of Ammonites and Moabites came to war against

Iehosaphat and the children of Israel, intending to cast them out of the Lords inheritance, and utterly destroy them, to the dishonour of God; the Lord by delivering them from that sore affliction, gained to himself such honour and glory; That (as the Text saith) the fear of God was upon all the Kingdoms of the Earth, when they heard that the Lord had fought so against the enemies of Israel, 2 Chron. 20.19. The judgement was upon some, the fear came upon all; it was but a few mens loss, but it was all mens warning, 1 Cor. 10.11. When the Lord brought again the Captivity of Sion, (saith the Psalmist) then said they among the Heathen, The Lord hath done great things for them, Psal. 126.1, 2.

God provides on purpose mighty adversaries for his Church, that their humiliation may be the greator in susteining, and his glory may be greater in deliverance: yea, though there be legions of Devils▪ and every one stronger then many legions of men, and more malicious then strong; yet Christs little Flock, lives and prospers. And makes not this exceedingly for our Makers, for our Guardians glory?

Gods power is best made known in our weakness, 2 Cor. 12.9. And our deliverance is so much the more wondred at, by how much the less it was expected. Impossibilities are the best advancers of Gods glory; who not seldom hangs the greatest w••ights upon the smallest wiers, as he doth those bottles of Heaven, (being of infinite weight and magnitude) in the soft air (where no man can make a feather hang) and the massie substance of the whole Earth and Sea upon nothing, Job 26.7, 8. Yea, the whole frame of the Heavens, have no other Columnes or Supporters to lean upon, than his mighty and powerful Word, Gen. 1.6, 7, 8. For what we least be∣lieve can be done, we most admire being done; the lesser the means, and the greater the opposition, the more is the glory of him who by little means doth overcome a great opposition: yea, it is greater glory to God to turn evils into good by over-mastering them, than wholly to take them away.

Now, if thy very enemies thus honour thee; how should thy friends (bought with thy precious blood) glorifie thee? But the sweetest of Honey lieth in the bo••tom. I pass therefore from the first to the second Reason.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Sinne stigma∣tized.
• * 1.2

  The Cause and Cure of Prejudice.