A Golden Chain

Among all the means which God useth, the special are the reasonable creatures, which are no passive instrument, as the tool in the hand of the workman, but active: because as they are moved by God, so again being endued with will and reason, they move themselves. And such instruments are either good or evil. Evil, as wicked men and angels. And these he useth to ⟨p. 246⟩do his good will and pleasure, even then when they do least of all obey him. And considering that the sinning instrument which is moved by God, doth also move it self freely without any constraint on Gods part: God himself is free from all blame, when the instrument is blame-worthy. In directing the instrument, God sinneth not: the action indeed is of him, but the defect of the action from the instrument: which being corrupt, can it self do nothing but that which is corrupt: God in the mean season by it bringing that to pass which is very good. The whole cause of sin is in Satan and in us: as for God he puts no wickedness into us, but the evil which he finds in us he moves, that is, orders, and governs, and bends it by his infinite wisdom, when and in what manner it pleaseth him, to the glory of his name, the evil instrument not knowing so much, nay intending a far other end. As in the mill the horse blindfolded goes forward, and perceives nothing but that he is in the ordinary way, whereas the miller himself whips him and stirs him forward for another end, namely for the grinding of corn. And this is that which we must hold touching Gods providence over wicked men and angels: and it stands with the tenor of the whole Bible. Josephs brethren sold him into Egypt very wickedly, even in the testimony of their own consciences: yet Joseph having respect to the counsel and work of God, which he performed by his brethren, saith, that the Lord sent him thither. ¹And the Church of Jerusalem saith, that Herod and Pontius Pilate did nothing in the death of Christ but that which the hand &counsel of god had determined to be done: ²because though they wickedly intended nothing but to show their malice and hatred in the death of Christ: yet God propounding a further matter by them then ever they dreamed of, showed forth his endless mercy to man in the work of redemption.

Among all the meanes which God vseth, the speciall are the reasonable creatures, which are no passiue instrument, as the toole in the hand of the workman, but actiue: because as they are mooued by God, so againe being indued with will and reason, they mooue themselues. And such instruments are either good or euill. Euill, as wicked men and angels. And these he vseth to