Scriptures opened and sundry cases of conscience resolved, in plain and practical answers to several questions, upon the proverbs of Solomon, Ecclesiastes, Jeremiah, Lamentations, Ezekiel, and Daniel / by that faithful servant of Jesus Christ, William Thomas ...

Eccles. 7. 10.

Say not thou, What is the cause that the former days were little better than these? for thou dost not enquire wisely concern∣ing this.

Qu. DOth Solomon absolutely bind us out from saying, the former days are better than these, or from questio∣ning the present times?

Answ. 1. He saith, and the Spirit of God saith, Say not], say not thou, What is the cause? for it is the manner of im∣patience to be asking Questions ** 1.1, as if no good answer could be given; but the answer of the Preacher is to forbid them to ask, because it is but a foolish Que∣stion.

For 2. He saith, that they that say so make not a wise enquiry concerning this.

But for further instruction and satis∣faction, the Question may be answered Negatively and Affirmatively.

First, Negatively, in two Things:

1. Solomon's meaning is not that some times are not worse than others; for Christs own words (if we speak of affli∣ction) shew the contrary, telling us of such tribulation as was not from the beginning of the world to that time, no nor ever shall be, Mat. 24. 21. And (if we speak of Sin) the description of the last times by the Apostle, shews the contrary, 2 Tim. 3. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5.

2. Nor is it his meaning, that if the Times be corrupt, they should not be disliked, and the iniquity thereof re∣proved and cried out against, or the ca∣lamity thereof bewailed; for that's a Duty, Isa. 58. 1. Ezek. 9. 4. Jer. 13. 17.

Secondly, Positively, in divers Par∣ticulars.

1. A Man must not complain of the Times, as looking for a felicity in this world, and to enjoy such Times as will have nothing in them to complain of.

2. None should quarrel with the pre∣sent Times out of vain respects, out of

an humour of worldliness and discon∣tentedness, when the Times they com∣plain of are in truth better than the Times they commend, and the Time they commend worse than the time they condemn. Thus, the Scribes and Pha∣risees made as if their Fathers days and doings were worse than theirs, Mat. 23. 30. when their Fathers kill'd the Ser∣vants of God only, but in their time, the Son of God was slain, and by their hands. And so some old ignorant crea∣tures have us'd to proclaim the Times of Popery here in England better than the latter Times of the Gospel, because then all things were cheap; when the cause of their saying so, is the regarding of their Purse or Paunch more than their Souls.

3. Neither should any question the times so as therein to question the wisdom and righteousness of Gods Government, by whose Providence it is that some Times are better and some worse, Psal. 31. 15. Amos 3. 6. See Mal. 2. 17. & 3. 13, 14. Job 1. 22. & 24. 1. & 34. 29.

4. Neither shouldst thou, if the Times be sadder, and the days wherein thou livest be gloomy days, torment

thy self with excessive grief, or pine a∣way with sorrow, Josh. 7. 7, 10. Acts 27. 22. Ask not only the Times, Why are you so heavy? But thy Self, Why am I so heavy? Psal. 42. 11.

5. Leave not thy Station, 1 Cor. 7. 24. Nehem. 6. 11. Amos 7. 14, 15. neg∣lect not thy Calling out of a despairing mind, but go on in thy way, and wait upon God in thy place in an evil world; use piety, study repentance, Zeph. 2. 3. Get away every Achan, Josh. 7. 11. yea, use prudence; Be silent, Take heed what thou sayst, and to whom, Amos 5. 13. and to whom thou committest thy self, John 2. 24. Acts 9. 26. but yet Take heed of leaving the work committed to thee to do, Mark 13. 34, 35. Acts 5. 25, 28, 29, 42. And if there should be any withdrawing for a time upon some spe∣cial occasion, be able to say as David; Is there not a Cause? 1 Sam. 17. 29. Take heed of questioning the Times so as that God should question thee (though thou be hardly dealt with) for a Run-away. Remember the Angels question∣ing of Hagar flying from her Mistress, Gen. 16. 8, 9, with v. 6.

6. Do not so examine, pry into, and

pore upon the evils of the Times as to forget the good of the Times. These last Times are the best that ever were in re∣gard of Gospel-manifestations, Mat. 13. 16, 17. and yet they are the worst, to wit, in regard of the rage of Satan and wicked men, Rev. 2. 10. Rev. 12. 12. John 16. 2.

7. When Times be at the worst, if thou question the Cause, do not que∣stion it with indignation (as if the world were ungoverned, or thy mind were to put in Interrogatories against the great Governour thereof, Job 3▪ 4. 7, 8.) but do it for information, and then, if thou enquire wisely, thou wilt find the cause of worse Times to be the sins of the Times, Jer. 30. 14, 15. Mic. 3. 5. Turn therefore thy questionings and quarellings with the Times unto an examining of, (this is a wise enquiry, Mica 6. 9, 10, &c.) a mourning for, and a reforming of, (as far as thy power reacheth) those evils of sin that cause the Times to be so evil, Deut. 31. 29.

8. Do not so complain of bad Times as to lay aside all hopes of better, Jer. 30. 7, 17. Jer. 33. 23. Psal. 42. 11. Still hope in God, Ezra 10. 2.

9. If there never come good Times in thy time, instead of froward Queries about, make a good use of, exercise suf∣fering graces in, learn some good Lessons from those evil and castigatory Times (Mica. 6. 9.) into which it hath pleased God to cast thee; Ephes. 5. 16. Thou oughtest always so to live (saith Hierom in loc.) as that the present days may be better to thee than the days that are past▪ Psal. 119. 71. Hereupon, unto thy Question, What is the cause why the for∣mer days are better than these? This An∣swer may be return'd, That thy way•• may be better than if the days had been better.

Nec vetus saeculum praesenti praeferas, quia unus utrius{que} Conditor est Deus, Vi••∣tutes bonos dies viventi faciunt, viti•• malos. Hieron. in loc.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Job 3. 11, 12. Gen. 43. 6. Jer. in loc.