Here we learn, first, the special and extraordinary presence, and providence of God over his children in great distresses and extremities. His providence is over all his works, for he forgets nothing that he made: but the special eye of his providence watcheth over his children; as a Master of a family hath an eye over his meanest servants, yea over his very cattle: but his care night and day is for his children. And as God overlooketh all his children always: so principally his providence showeth it self, when they are in the deepest dangers, or in the greatest want of natural helps. When Daniel was cast into the Lions den, God was there with him, and shut their mouths, Daniel 6.22. When the three children were cast into the fiery furnace, God was with them, and took away the natural force from the fire: Daniel 3.27. When the Israelites were to pass through the sea, or else die (a hard shift) God was with them, & made the sea give place to his children, and stand like two walls on either side them, Exodus 14.22. When they were to wander through the wide wilderness, through so many dangers and discomforts as Deserts do afford, Christ was with them, and waited upon them with his continual comfort and assistance, ⟨p. 128⟩Corinth. 10.4. And so when Noah was to go into the Ark, and (being in) must have the door shut, and closed upon him; his ca•e pitiful. For, do it himself he could not; it both being so bi•ge, that Elephants and Camels must en•er in at it: and though he could have pulled it to; yet being within, he could never have sufficiently closed it from the water: Nor would any other of that wicked world do it for him: they did not owe him so much love or service, but rather mocked him, & laughed at him: as first, for making the Ark; so now for entering in, when he knew not how to have it closed. How should he do? himself could not, others would not. God himself with his own hand shut it for him. And after, when he was in, and was in danger to be thrown upon the rocks, and to be split in pieces on the hills, and had no Anchor, no stern, no Pilot, no Master; God himself was with him, and was all in all unto him. The eye of his love, and the hand of his power was over him, and so the Ark saved him and his household.
Here wee learne, first, the speciall and extraordinary presence, and prouidence of God ouer his children in great distresses and extremities. His prouidence is ouer all his works, for he forgets nothing that he made: but the speciall eye of his prouidence watcheth ouer his children; as a Maister of a family hath an eye ouer his meanest seruants, yea ouer his verie cattell: but his care night and day is for his children. And as God ouerlooketh all his children alwayes: so principally his prouidence sheweth it selfe, when they are in the deepest dangers, or in the greatest want of naturall helps. When Daniel was cast into the Lions denne, God was there with him, and shut their mouthes, Daniel 6.22. When the three children were cast into the fierie fornace, God was with them, and tooke away the naturall force from the fire: Daniel 3.27. When the Israelites were to passe through the sea, or else die (a hard shift) God was with them, & made the sea giue place to his children, and stand like two walls on either side them, Exodus 14.22. When they were to wander through the wide wildernesse, through so many dangers and discomforts as Deserts doe afford, Christ was with them, and waited vpō them with his continuall comfort and assistance, ⟨p. 128⟩Corinth. 10.4. And so when Noah was to go into the Arke, and (being in) must haue the dore shut, and closed vpon him; his ca•e pitifull. For, doe it himselfe he could not; it both being so bi•ge, that Elephants and Camels must en•er in at it: and though he could haue pull'd it to; yet being within, hee could neuer haue sufficiently closed it from the water: Nor would any other of that wicked world doe it for him: they did not owe him so much loue or seruice, but rather mockt him, & laught at him: as first, for making the Arke; so now for entring in, when he knew not how to haue it closed. How should hee do? himselfe could not, others would not. God himselfe with his owne hand shut it for him. And after, when he was in, and was in danger to be throwen vpon the rockes, and to be split in pieces on the hills, and had no Anchor, no sterne, no Pilot, no Maister; God himselfe was with him, and was all in all vnto him. The eye of his loue, and the hand of his power was ouer him, and so the Arke saued him and his houshold.
