A plain and familiar exposition of the fifteenth, sixteenth, and seventeenth chapters of the…A plaine and familiar exposition of the fifteenth, sixteenth, and seventeenth chapters of the…

The lots that Joshua and Eleazar did cause to be cast for the inheritance of the Tribes of Israel, did so justly accord with the blessings which Jacob and Moses had before pronounced ⟨p. 109⟩concerning divers of them, that every man may well perceive that he which spake by the tongues of the former, did also work by the hands of the latter. And Samuel engaged the credit both of his truth and ministry upon the success of ¹the lot that was to be cast for the King to be chosen, that it would undoubtedly fall upon Saul, whom, by the appointment of God, he had anointed. And that in other cases, things casual in show are wisely governed in deed, the vision which was showed to Ezekiel doth confirm, who beheld a multitude of the matters of the world in appearance to run upon ²wheels, and yet in no sort to be either drawn or driven by blind Fortune; for he observed the streaks of the wheels to be full of eyes round about: whereby the intentive providence of God was signified. Examples for this purpose are plentiful, plain, and pregnant. Who appointed the Ishmaelitish Merchants ³at that time to travel that way which they went, but the Lord, that they might carry down Joseph into Egypt? Who appointed Pharaohs daughter at that time to come to wash her self in that place, but the Lord, that she might undertake the preservation of Moses? The same appointed King ⁴Ahashuerosh not to sleep for one night, but to call for the Chronicles to be read unto him, that he might protect and exalt Mordecai. The same prepared the whale to be ready ⁵where Jonah should be cast into the sea, that he might receive him, as the text testifieth. And as much might be said of the vinegar that they offered unto Christ at his suffering: and no ⁶less of the soldiers that divided his garments, and cast lots for his coat after that he was crucified.