Four great liars, striving who shall win the silver whetstone Also, a resolution to…Foure great lyers, striuing who shall win the siluer whetstone Also, a resolution to…

The providence of God is his decree by which he appointeth how every thing shall come to pass. The continual execution of this decree is ordinarily by means, but often without means. The means which God useth are either general or special. General are these by which he governeth all the whole world, and every particular thing, which concerneth this life: unto this kind are referred spiritual creatures, called Angels, by whom the philosophers say the heavens are governed, and we see that whole kingdoms, Provinces, and Cities have been kept and defended by them, as also consumed and destroyed. Again the stars and heavenly bodies are used of GOD to govern and order things here below as it is in the 19▪ Psalm. Nothing is hid from the heat of the sun. ¹And by the prophet Hosea, the Lord speaketh thus I will hear the heavens, the ⟨image 22⟩heavens shall hear the earth, the earth shall hear the corn, the corn shall hear Israel. But this instrument is only a general instrument, and hath his wor• in ordinary matters of nature. Beside▪ these means, there be many ••her by which God ruleth the world. In the beginning he set […] over the whole world▪ that he […] fowls, beasts and all things […] set the first born before their brethren, […] Abel Princess and Tyrants over Cities Kingdoms, common wealths, and therefore by reason of their dignity calleth them Gods There be also governors of families over their families, fathers over their children, masters over their servants. Yet GOD hath a more near care in preserving and governing his chosen, as appeareth in the 43. of Isaiah. Thus saith the Lord God that created thee,