ROM. 2. 15.
THe last day we delivered one main cause of the silencing, or stupifying those Dictates and Principles of naturall light, which provoke to that which is good, though very imperfectly and detectively. We now proceed to a second ground; and that may be an imprudent and sinfull consideration of the government and administration of things below. That it hath fared ill with those that have done1 well; and on the contrary, that those who have been very hainous in wickedness, have yet prospered, and had great abundance; hath been a great tempest to put out that little spark in mens hearts: which consideration made the Poet say, Sollicitor nullos, saepe putare Deos, He was tempted to think there was no God, when he looked upon the administration of things below. This sate heavy on the heathens spirits, whereupon they have made Tractates upon this question, Why it sometimes fals ill to a good man, and well to a wicked, as Seneca and Plutarch, wherein they have behaved themselves in some measure well, gravely acquitting Gods providence; and had they enjoyed Scripture-light, they had easily waded through that deep: And it is no wonder that these blasts have made Heathens stagger and reele too and fio, for we have the eminent Cedars in Gods Church almost overturned by it. David, a godly man, greatly exercised in severall conditions, though alwaies finding God turning stone into bread for him, when he was in any wildernesse, yet how pitifully doth he toil and labour under this temptation? Psal. 73. that those who were wicked, they prospered, they had their hearts desire; they had no pangs, nor troubles; and this did so far prevail, that in a sudden passion, he speaks like an Atheist, Verily, I have washed my hands in innocency and have cleansed my heart in vain. On monstrous speech, and dreadfull to come out of a godly mans mouth: to say, it was a vain thing to fear God, a vain thing to walk justly and innocently, if he had done wickedly, he should have prospered better. But this was onely a suddain motion, an imperfect suggestion of the flesh, not a setled deliberate principle; therefore he quickly recovers, calls himself a foolish and ignorant beast, goeth into the Sanctuary of God, and there understands aright; yea, and as a man in a great inward heat and agony, but getting some ease and respite, saith, Truely God is good to israel, even to the clean in heart; so that this generous wine doth at […]ast expell that noxious venome in it. In like manner we see Jeremiah, chap. 12 1. staggering under this divine dispensation, though acquitting God: So that we see its a great part of wisedome to behold the marvellous doings of God on the earth, with a wi[…]e and pure eye; not to turn Atneistical, carelesse, and prophane, concluding it is all one, whether a man be godly, or ungodly, just, or unjust. The Psalmist saith, The fool hath said in his heart, there is no God, Psalme 14. 1. It’s not Jehovah, in the originall, but Elohim, none that judgeth, or governeth the world, taking notice of things done here below; and how great an incouragement this is to goe on in wickednesse, appeareth by that of Solomon, Because judgement is not speedily executed upon the wicked, therefore is the heart of a man within him set upon folly, Eccles. 7. 8, 11. Oh then if thou wouldest have these principles of conscience quick and active within thee, then doe thou by Scripture information, consider of all Gods administrations here below, knowing that even what is most crooked to thy apprehension is yet streight: as the stick in the water, though streight, yet seemeth crooked, because the water is not a fit medium to see by: So thou art astonished at many Providences of God in this world, and thou askest, Where is the Justice, the Wisdome, the Equality of these things? but thou lookest through an unfit medium, and so they seem crooked to thee. Alas, the Scripture doth evidently informe us of just, and wise ends, why God sometimes suffered his enemies to prosper, and godlinesse to be persecuted, and his Saints made Martyrs for his Name sake; so that the Word of God is the truest Glasse to represent the face of all things here below, especially that is satisfactory, that God hath appointed a day of judgement for the whole world, when all shall appear, and be judged for what is done in the earth; and as here below they do not complain that Malefactors are not executed before the Assizes, but patiently expect that time: So are we quietly to wait that great day, wherein God will settle all things according to their nature and deserts. Let no man therefore harden himself in impiety, thinking I have been thus long a prophane, unjust, ungodly man, and I am well and lusty, nothing aileth, or troubleth me: Let not this cauterize thy Conscience, for thou art but as the beast fatted for the Shambles.