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Ob. I Thinke there was ne∣uer a worse age, one can not trust an other; such deceit, lying, flattering, swea∣ring, forswearing, mischiefe, and crueltie, yea and all ini∣quitie: but truth and good∣nesse few like and allow of.
Answ. Mans heart pos∣sessed with griefe of present euills, which he onely con∣sidereth off, maketh him forget what hath been. But behold thou now the for∣mer time, and weigh the complaints of the Pro∣phets. Osea saith, there was
in his daies, no mercy, truth, nor knowledge of God in the Land; but swearing, ly∣ing, killing, stealing, and whooring, and bloud tou∣ching bloud, Chap. 4.1.2. They set trappes and laide nets to catch men, many by deceit became great, and waxed rich, Chap. 5.26.27. Brothers would supplant one another, and neigh∣bours would walke vp and downe with slanders, and one deceiue another, they would speake peaceably with the mouth, but in hart would lay waite, Chap. 9.4.5.8. They were shamelesse in adulteries, and abomina∣ble whooredomes, like fed horses, neighing after their neighbours wiues, Chap. 5.
8. Couetousnesse and false∣hood raigned in Prophets, and Priests, soothing and flattering vp the people, and that without shame, Chap. 6.13.14.15. Being in Esaus dayes as greedy dogges, ne∣uer satisfied, Chap. 56.11. But neither they, nor the people were valiant for the truth. Ier. 9.3. None called for iustice, none pleaded for truth, Esa. 59.4. The cause of the fatherlesse, and right of the needy they iudged not, Ier. 5.28. Their Princes were rebellious, and companions of theeues, they loued gifts, and fol∣lowed after rewards, Esa. 1.23. They altogether brake the yoke, and did burst the bands of their obedience
towards God, Ier. 5.5. And the house of God in those wicked times by stealing, murther, adultery, and o∣ther sinnes was made a den of theeues, Ierem. 7.9-11. And therfore now no grea∣ter cause to complaine of this age than formerly hath beene, the consideration may worke patience and prayer: yet not without griefe of heart, as the euills did cause the godly men in those dayes to mourne.
Obiect. I can not but maruell to see the oppression of the poore, and violent per∣uerting of iudgement and iustice.
Answ. Maruell not at the matter: for hee that is higher than the highest re∣gardeth,
and there is grea∣ter then they, Eccles. 5.8.
Obiect. It may seeme that there is no prouidence, that God regardeth not, and that hee doth not behold, what is done here vpon earth.
Answ. The Lord from the place of his habitati∣on, looketh vpon all the in∣habitants of the earth, hee fashioneth their hearts, hee considereth al their works, and beholdeth all the sons of men, Psal. 33.13.14.15. Yea he looketh to the ends of the earth, and seeth vn∣der the whole heauen, Iob, 28.24. Psal. 113.6.
Obiect. This may bee so in generall in a confused manner: but hee doth not take notice of euery particu∣lar
mans doing.
Answ. There is not any creature, that is not mani∣fest in his sight: but all things are naked and open to his eyes, with whom wee haue to doe, Heb. 4.13. The wayes of a man are before the eyes of the Lord, and hee pondereth all his do∣ings, Prou. 5.21. Hee seeth a mans waies, and counteth all his steppes, Chap. 31.4. His eyes are in euery place, beholding the euill and the good, Prou. 15.3. Hee try∣eth the raynes and the hart, Ier. 11.20. 1. Sam. 16.7. Though it bee deceitfull a∣boue all things, Ier. 17.9.10. And considereth our thoughts long before.
Obiect. Be it that God
seeth thus, as is saied; yet it may be, he is not able to rule and gouerne them.
Answ. God is greater than man, Iob, 33.12. And doth what he will in heauen and in earth, for there is no∣thing too hard for him, Ier. 32.17. Psal. 135.6.
Obiect. Then it may seeme, that hee is respectiue of persons: if hee can take order with them, and will not.
Answ. Hee doth not accept the person of Prin∣ces, nor regardeth the rich more then the poore, for they are all the work of his hands, Iob, 34.19.
Obiect. Well, for all this, seeing that God forbids sin, and hateth iniquitie, and yet
men commit sinne and ini∣quity: it seemeth not reaso∣nable, that hee should suffer them to liue vpon the earth.
Answ. God giueth not account of any of his mat∣ters, Iob, 33.13. But what if God, willing to shew his wrath, and to make his power knowne, doth in∣dure (with much long suffe∣ring) the vassals of wrath made vp to destruction, Rom. 9.22. Otherwise they should soone be cut down, and the Lord would raine vpon them snares, fire and brimstone, and an horrible tempest, this should bee their portion to drinke, Psa. 11.5.6.
Obiect. Mee thinke yet, they should not be suffered to
doe what they list, as wee see they doe daily.
Answ. They doe not what they list, though wee thinke so, and that they themselues also bee so per∣swaded. It is the Lord that doth onely whatsoeuer hee pleaseth, Psalm. 115.3. Iob, 23.13. But they doe not what they will, for they can not speake but as hee will, Prou. 16.1. Nor goe, but by his direction, Vers. 9. Ierem. 10.23. Prou. 20.24. Their power, counsell and consent doe that, which Gods hand and his counsell determined before to bee done, Act. 4.28. Therefore in all these things which come to passe, wee may say with Ely: It is the Lord, let
him doe what seemeth him good, 1. Sam. 3.18.
Obiect. But it may not seeme credible, that the Lord doth heare and see all their wayes, & the iniquitie which they doe commit; for it is so horrible, & the villany ther∣of in many so outragious, that man can not indure it. Can God heare and see, and let them alone?
Answ. Mine eyes (saith the Lord) are vpon all their waies, they are not hid from my face, neither is their ini∣quitie hid from mine eyes, Ier. 16.17. For he that plan∣ted the eare, shall hee not heare? hee that formed the eye, shall not hee see? and hee that teacheth man knowledge, shall not hee
know? Psal. 94.1.10.
Obiect. Belike then, the Lord is not angrie with them, and therefore may they continue and proceede on, without feare of punish∣ment.
Answ. Though the Lord keepe silence a long time, when men do these things: yet one day will he reproue them, and set their sinnes in order before them, Psalm. 50.21. In the meane sea∣son, hee is angry with the wicked euery day, Psalm. 7.11. And hee seeth and be∣holdeth mischiefe and spite, to requite it with his hand, Psa. 10.14. For the wicked, and him that loueth vio∣lence, doth his soule hate, Psal. 11.5. Yea hee hateth
all the workers of iniquity, abhorring the bloudie and deceitfull man, Psalme 5.5.6.
Obiect. The mighty sit in iudgement to iudge o∣thers: but none taketh no∣tice of their proceedings.
Answ. Yes verily, God standeth in the congregati∣on of the mightie. Hee iudgeth among the Gods, Psalm. 82.1. And sitteth in the throne iudging right, Psal. 9.4. For the righteous Lord loueth righteousnes, his countenance doth be∣hold the vpright, Psal. 11.7.
Obiect. The poore com∣plaine, the oppressed are not releeued, the fatherlesse and widowes are neglected, their cause cōmeth not before thē.
Answ. The Lord exe∣cuteth righteousnesse and iudgement, for all that are oppressed, Psal. 103.6. Hee heareth the cry of the affli∣cted, Iob, 34.28. Hee hea∣reth the poore, Psal. 69, 33. He deliuereth the poore in his affliction, Iob, 36.15. The Lord will maintaine the cause of the afflicted, & the right of the poore, Psal. 40.12. He is a father of the fatherlesse, and a iudge of the widdow in his holy ha∣bitation, Psalm. 68.5. Hee wil deliuer the needy when hee cryeth, the poore also, & him that hath no helper, Psal. 72.14.
Obiect. But these want an aduocate and Lawyer to plead for them, and there∣fore
are they spoyled, of those that seeke their ouerthrow.
Answ. The Lord will plead the cause of the poore and afflicted, and wil spoyle the soule of those that spoyle them, Prou. 22.23. For their Redeemer is mightie, Prou. 23.11.
Obiect. Though a man may haue his cause pleaded, iustly defended, and sentence on his side pronounced, yet it may want execution.
Answ. The Lord also executeth righteousnes and iudgement, for all that are oppressed, 103.6. He esta∣blisheth equitie, Psal. 99.4. For righteousnes & iudge∣ment, are the habitation of his throne, Psal. 97.2.
Formertimes worse: yet the present time com∣monly com∣plained off.
Eccles. 4.4.
2. Chro. 16.9 Gods eyes are euery where, and knowes all and euery particular mans doing. Ier. 32.19.
1. Chro. 28.9 Psal. 7.10. & 20.12. & 94.11.
All things are possible with God.
God is no accepter of persons. Deut. 10.17. 2. Chro. 9.7. Act. 10.34. Rom. 2.11.
God suffe∣reth the wic∣ked to re∣maine vpon the earth.
The wicked do not what they list.
2. Sam. 16.10.11.
God be∣holds the wicked, and seeth what they doe.
Esa. 42.14. God is an∣gry with the wicked, though hee forbeare to reuenge himselfe for a season.
The poore afflicted, haue God for their iudge, hee pleadeth for them.
Esa. 3.13.14.