2. Paul is an Apostle not by Gods just and angry will, raising him up for the 1sins and punishment of a people; but it was from Gods good pleasure. And this consideration is very terrible; God hath not only a permissive will, but a just ordaining will of evil and ungodly Officers at some times, to some people, for wise and holy ends, God in great anger doth will such Officers and Ministers to 2a people, that shall be blind guides, that shall be thieves and robbers, that shall be ravening wolves, and shall lead many to hell with themselves. Sad and fearful is the condition of such a people. See a notable place for this, 1 King. 22. 22, 23. where God is described as a just Judge sitting upon his Throne, and an host ready to wait on him. Now there was wicked Ahab, who desired such Prophets that would speak no evil to him, that would flatter him, and thereupon see what God saith to the lying Spirit, he bids him Go, and be a lying Spirit in the mouth of all the Prophets, and he shall persuade and prevail. Thus the Lord still doth. There are many people love not a Minister, that will reprove sin, that will promote godliness and holiness; but let them have a man, that will let them be at ease in their sins and formality. Now God in his just anger, and by his provoked will brings such a Minister to such a people: You would have such, and God will have you have such, and they shall persuade and prevail. To this purpose also, Jer. 5. 30, 31. Now this will of God in ordering such Officers, is sometimes to increase the condemnation of the Officer himself, and to draw out his sins more. They are Officers in the Church through the anger of God to themselves; they will gnash their teeth that ever they were entrusted with such power, for thereby they become more wicked. Had not Judas better have been the poorest wretch in the Church of God, then such an eminent Officer? It is sometimes also for the wickedness and ungodliness of a people; and therefore even those that are godly, who live under such providential Ministers (I call them providential Ministers, because they are so by his providence in anger, not by his approving will) they are to consider two things:
2. Paul is an Apostle not by Gods just and angry will, raising him up for the 1sinnes and punishment of a people; but it was from Gods good pleasure. And this consideration is very terrible; God hath not only a permissive will, but a just ordaining will of evil and ungodly Officers at some times, to some people, for wise and holy ends, God in great anger doth will such Officers and Ministers to 2a people, that shall be blind guides, that shall be thieves and robbers, that shall be ravening wolves, and shall lead many to hell with themselves. Sad and fearfull is the condition of such a people. See a notable place for this, 1 King. 22. 22, 23. where God is described as a just Judge sitting upon his Throne, and an host ready to wait on him. Now there was wicked Ahab, who desired such Prophets that would speak no evil to him, that would flatter him, and thereupon see what God saith to the lying Spirit, he bids him Go, and be a lying Spirit in the mouth of all the Prophets, and he shall perswade and prevail. Thus the Lord still doth. There are many people love not a Minister, that will reprove sinne, that will promote godliness and holiness; but let them have a man, that will let them be at ease in their sinnes and formality. Now God in his just anger, and by his provoked will brings such a Minister to such a people: You would have such, and God will have you have such, and they shall perswade and prevail. To this purpose also, Jer. 5. 30, 31. Now this will of God in ordering such Officers, is sometimes to increase the condemnation of the Officer himself, and to draw out his sins more. They are Officers in the Church through the anger of God to themselves; they will gnash their teeth that ever they were entrusted with such power, for thereby they become more wicked. Had not Judas better have been the poorest wretch in the Church of God, then such an eminent Officer? It is sometimes also for the wickedness and ungodliness of a people; and therefore even those that are godly, who live under such providential Ministers (I call them providential Ministers, because they are so by his providence in anger, not by his approving will) they are to consider two things:
- 12. It is not his angry and just will.
- 2God sometimes doth justly send ungodly Ministers amongst a people.
