2. As you have the assurance of Christs death and merit for it, so you have the assurance of the Fathers design. God would not suffer men to be so wrathful and malicious against his people, if he did not intend to turn it unto his praise; God hath a design upon all their anger: God hath bid them to be angry (if I may so speak) and why? if he had not a design to turn it to his praise? The Lord bid Shimei curse David: Who was it that bid Shimei curse David? God: And who was it that sent Joseph into Egypt? God sent him: The wrath, and anger and envy of his Brethren indeed were instruments, but God sent him. God had a design upon their anger, and upon their envy and wrath, in Rev. 16. you find that three unclean Spirits that came out of the mouth of the false Prophet, and Dragon, and the Beast, they stir up the Kings of the Earth to battle; and they are the Spirits of Devils, working miracles, which go forth unto the Kings of the earth, and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty. They go forth to stir up men to battle, but in verse 16. 'tis God that gathers them: Behold I come as a Thief, blessed is he that watcheth, and keepeth his garments, &c. and he gathered them together into a place called in the Hebrew tongue Armageddon: God had a hand upon their hand; God gathered them, in Mich. 4. 11. Now also many Nations are gathered against thee, that say: Let her be defiled, and let our eye look upon ⟨p. 176⟩Zion. Let her be defiled, her's anger enough, but saith he, verse 12. They know not the thoughts of the Lord, neither understand they his counsel; For he shall gather them as the sheaves into the floor. He shall gather them, in the 11th. verse, 'tis said: Now also many Nations are gathered against thee, that say, let her be defiled, and let our eye look upon Zion; But they know not the thoughts of the Lord: They are gathering together against the people of God; and God is gathering to thresh them: They gather together, God hath a design upon their gathering; God gathers them: So in Ezek. 38. you have there the story of Gog and Magog, that came up against the people of the Lord in a great multitude; and they came up to spoil: Therefore verse 14. Son of man prophesy, and say unto Gog, Thus saith the Lord God, in that day, when my people Israel dwelleth safely, shalt thou not know it?
2. As you have the assurance of Christs death and merit for it, so you have the assurance of the Fathers design. God would not suffer men to be so wrathful and malicious against his people, if he did not intend to turn it unto his praise; God hath a design upon all their anger: God hath bid them to be angry (if I may so speak) and why? if he had not a design to turn it to his praise? The Lord bid Shimei curse David: Who was it that bid Shimei curse David? God: And who was it that sent Joseph into Egypt? God sent him: The wrath, and anger and envy of his Brethren indeed were instruments, but God sent him. God had a design upon their anger, and upon their envy and wrath, in Rev. 16. you find that three unclean Spirits that came out of the mouth of the false Prophet, and Dragon, and the Beast, they stir up the Kings of the Earth to battel; and they are the Spirits of Devils, working miracles, which go forth unto the Kings of the earth, and of the whole world, to gather them to the battel of that great day of God Almighty. They go forth to stir up men to battel, but in verse 16. 'tis God that gathers them: Behold I come as a Thief, blessed is he that watcheth, and keepeth his garments, &c. and he gathered them together into a place called in the Hebrew tongue Armageddon: God had a hand upon their hand; God gathered them, in Mich. 4. 11. Now also many Nations are gathered against thee, that say: Let her be defiled, and let our eye look upon ⟨p. 176⟩Zion. Let her be defiled, her's anger enough, but saith he, verse 12. They know not the thoughts of the Lord, neither understand they his counsel; For he shall gather them as the sheaves into the floor. He shall gather them, in the 11th. verse, 'tis said: Now also many Nations are gathered against thee, that say, let her be defiled, and let our eye look upon Zion; But they know not the thoughts of the Lord: They are gathering together against the people of God; and God is gathering to thresh them: They gather together, God hath a design upon their gathering; God gathers them: So in Ezek. 38. you have there the story of Gog and Magog, that came up against the people of the Lord in a great multitude; and they came up to spoil: Therefore verse 14. Son of man prophesie, and say unto Gog, Thus saith the Lord God, in that day, when my people Israel dwelleth safely, shalt thou not know it?
