Use 2. If the Winds be for the fulfilling Gods Word, and that in those several ways; Hence let us learn that when any great Winds and Tempests arise, it is not for nothing that they arise, there is some special ⟨p. 66⟩reason that God hath for the raising and continuing of them; God hath always some special aim in them for the fulfilling of some word or other of his; many people when they hear of and feel grievous tempests, boisterous violent Winds, they think and say, there is conjuring abroad, and that is all the use they make of them; God is neglected, he is not so much as once mentioned by them. I find a Canon1 in a Council above 1000. years ago, made against such as shall attribute tempests, thunderings, and lightnings to the Devil, as if he caused them; whosoever believes this, saith the Council, as Priscillianus did, let him be Anathema. It is true, if God will permit the Devil, he hath much power over corporal things, to make great changes in them, to do great things by them, as we know what he did by Gods permission against Job, and when his children were feasting, there came, saith the Text, Job 1. 19. a great Wind and smote the four corners of the House: It is observed by some, there was a special ⟨p. 67⟩work of the Devil in drawing the Wind round about the house; how could one Wind else take the four corners of the house? Origen thinks those Winds were only the Devils themthemselves cluttering about the house, and striving who should do mischief soonest: the same word in the Hebrew that signifies the Wind, signifies also a spirit. Certain it is, if God should let him loose, he were able to overturn our houses every day, and suddenly to destroy us all; but howsoever God may permit him sometimes as his executioner, yet the supreme cause of raising and ordering is God, for special ends, which the Devil is forced against his will to further, and there is not the least vapour, or any of the most contemptible creature that he hath any power over, but by permission, and therefore, neither Angel, nor Devil, nor any power in Heaven and Earth can raise or continue any Wind, but as an instrument of God. When God hath some work to do for the fulfilling his Word, it were a great shame for ⟨p. 68⟩any who profess godliness, to be afraid of the Devil in this kind:
Ʋse 2. If the Winds be for the fulfilling Gods Word, and that in those severall wayes; Hence let us learne that when any great Winds and Tempests arise, it is not for nothing that they arise, there is some speciall ⟨p. 66⟩reason that God hath for the raising and continuing of them; God hath alwayes some speciall aime in them for the fulfilling of some word or other of his; many people when they heare of and feele grievous tempests, boisterous violent Winds, they thinke and say, there is conjuring abroad, and that is all the use they make of them; God is neglected, hee is not so much as once mentioned by them. I finde a Canon1 in a Councell above 1000. yeeres agoe, made against such as shall attribute tempests, thundrings, and lightnings to the Devill, as if he caused them; whosoever beleeves this, saith the Councell, as Priscillianus did, let him be Anathema. It is true, if God will permit the Devill, he hath much power over corporall things, to make great changes in them, to doe great things by them, as we know what he did by Gods permission against Job, and when his children were feasting, there came, saith the Text, Job 1. 19. a great Wind and smote the foure corners of the House: It is observed by some, there was a speciall ⟨p. 67⟩worke of the Devill in drawing the Wind round about the house; how could one Wind else take the foure corners of the house? Origen thinkes those Winds were onely the Devils themthemselves cluttering about the house, and striving who should doe mischiefe soonest: the same word in the Hebrew that signifies the Wind, signifies also a spirit. Certaine it is, if God should let him loose, hee were able to overturne our houses every day, and suddenly to destroy us all; but howsoever God may permit him sometimes as his executioner, yet the supreme cause of raising and ordering is God, for speciall ends, which the Devill is forced against his will to further, and there is not the least vapour, or any of the most contemptible creature that he hath any power over, but by permission, and therefore, neither Angel, nor Devill, nor any power in Heaven and Earth can raise or continue any Wind, but as an instrument of God. When God hath some worke to doe for the fulfilling his Word, it were a great shame for ⟨p. 68⟩any who professe godlinesse, to bee afraid of the Devill in this kinde:
- 1Si quis credit quod Diabolus tonitrua & fulgura & tempestates sua authoritate facit sicut Priscilianus dixit Anathema, sit Con. B•acarens. c. 8.
