Gods Providence and Mans Troubles.
GOds Providence is a most sure and powerfull action of God by which he hath ••rom all Eternity fore-seene and fore-ordeyned unto every thing both the end whereunto, and the meanes whereby they shall be brought to their ends: As also moderat••th and governeth the whol•• World, and every thing both great and littl•• therein contayned. And although God take care for all things without any meanes, yet that all things are ordin••rily governed indeed not by God only, but by meanes thereunto ordayned by God himselfe, notwithstan∣ding that often times also without, yea, and against meanes he effecteth the same. And alth••ugh G••ds Providence be immu••••able, yet that imposeth not simply a necessity unto things, but that every Secundary cause worketh accor∣ding to its owne Nature some necessarily, other some accidentally, and yet that this also dependeth on the Divine Providence, in respect whereof all things necessarily come to passe.
Gods Providence hath two parts
- Knowledge, and
- Government.
- Knowledge Is that whereby all things from the greatest to the least are manifest before him at all times (so saith David.) Gods eyes will consider, his eye-lidds will try the children of men: (And againe he saith) God ••b••seth himselfe to behold the things that are in Heaven and Earth: From the beginning of the World he know••th all his work••s.
- Government Is that whereby he ordereth all things and directeth them to good ends, and it must be extended to the very least things that are in He••ven and earth, ••s to Sparrowes, Oxen, to the haires of our head, L••llies of the field.
- Note There are three things included in the name of Providence, 1. A fore-knowl••dge of all things. 2. A will to bring ••very thing to his end. 3. The very actuall government of things
- ••dam and Heva Before they wer•• created had all things provided for Being naked in B••••y ••a•• Skinnes of beasts to cloath t••ē
- ••dam and Heva Being naked in ••••ul ••a•• Christs righteousnes to〈…〉〈…〉
- Abraham Being about to sacrifice his only Sonne Isaac, had a R••mme in steed of him to be 〈…〉〈…〉fired
- David Being compass••d with Souls Army ready to take him, Tid••ng•• of an Invasion made by the Philistines ••n his Land being brought him, removed his Army ag••ine, so as David then, and many other times escaped from him.
- David I retending evil•• to Nahal, was prevented by Abigcil,
- David By the counsell of Huyhai, brought to nought the counsell of
- David •• chitophell given against him, So as that Absa••on his sonn•• con∣spiring was with Achitop••e•• brought to utt••r ruine
- ...Daniell ••n the Lyons den was preserved, his Accus••rs perished,
- ...Daniell ••y expounding of the Kings dreame escaped, many wise men de∣stroyed.
- Elias In the time of Famine was by Ravens fed, by a Widdow relee∣ved, and by an Angell nourished.
- Elisha Being compassed with an Army of Syrians to take him, they were s••••ucken blinde, so he escaped them.
- Ester And Mordecai with the Jewes were delivered from King Ahashuerosh Decree, and Haman that procured the same, w•••• hanged on his owne Tree.
- Hagar Wandring in the Wildernesse espied a Well with which shee releeved her sonne Ismaell.
- Ioseph Being sold unto the Midianites by his Bretheren, thereby pre∣served his Father in time of Famine.
- Ioseph He was delivered when his appointed time came, and the coun∣sell of the Lord had tryed him.
- Ioshuahs Spyes sent to Iericho were hid by Rahab, she was thereby with all hers saved.