4. Did not God keep the godly he would be undone temporally, because of the hatred and malice wicked men bear to every godly man; Therefore Christ said, they were as Sheep among Wolves; Can they hope for mercy from a Wolf? David complained that his Soul was among Lions, and Ezekiel complained he dwelt among Scorpions; Now then seeing the world is so full of malice, and the number of wicked men is like the Sand upon the Sea-shore to them; They are as the Israelites Army seemed to the great power that came against them, like a Flock of Birds; Now what is the reason that wicked men have not their will of destroying the Godly; It is only God that keeps them, yea, God keeps every part of them, He keepeth their feet, Every stone else might be their Death; Yea, Psa. 34 20. He keepeth all their bones, he maketh their Beds in their sickness; What an expression is that? There is no Nurse can so diligently and tenderly look to the sick as God doth to a godly man diseased: Oh then that we should attribute our Estates to such care and diligence of our lives, to such places, to such second causes! and not rather look up to God who keepeth us all the day long; His keeping of all the godly doth not diminish his care in keeping every particular man, for it's God that keepeth every man, and that keepeth the Church in general; How could this Ark that had no Sails, no Pilot, no Stern have been kept in the midst of the Deluge? but that God preserveth it, Psa. 121.3. God is said to be the Keeper of Israel, and such an one that neither slumbereth or sleepeth; Certainly could the people of God for their Estates, Lives, and all they have, commit all to this Keeper, they would live with more joy; Thou sayest, who will keep me? Who will keep mine? Oh remember a better Keeper then if thou hadst all the Monarchs in the world; Whence then arise your fears and doubts, but because you are your own Keepers, or Friends must keep, or such an Estate, and so much wealth must keep you; See what David tells us, Psal. 121.1. Except the Lord keep the City even the Watchmen watcheth in vain; Though he watch and do not sleep, yet there must be a better Keeper: Say so of thy House, of thy Family, of thy Children, and of all outward worldly things.
4. Did not God keep the godly he would be undone temporally, because of the hatred and malice wicked men bear to every godly man; Therefore Christ said, they were as Sheep among Wolves; Can they hope for mercy from a Wolf? David complained that his Soul was among Lions, and Ezechiel complained he dwelt among Scorpions; Now then seeing the world is so full of malice, and the number of wicked men is like the Sand upon the Sea-shoar to them; They are as the Israelites Army seemed to the great power that came against them, like a Flock of Birds; Now what is the reason that wicked men have not their will of destroying the Godly; It is onely God that keeps them, yea, God keeps every part of them, He keepeth their feet, Every stone else might be their Death; Yea, Psa. 34 20. He keepeth all their bones, he maketh their Beds in their sicknesse; What an expression is that? There is no Nurse can so diligently and tenderly look to the sick as God doth to a godly man diseased: Oh then that we should attribute our Estates to such care and diligence of our lives, to such places, to such second causes! and not rather look up to God who keepeth us all the day long; His keeping of all the godly doth not diminish his care in keeping every particular man, for it's God that keepeth every man, and that keepeth the Church in generall; How could this Ark that had no Sails, no Pilot, no Stern have been kept in the midst of the Deluge? but that God preserveth it, Psa. 121.3. God is said to be the Keeper of Israel, and such an one that neither flumbreth or sleepeth; Certainly could the people of God for their Estates, Lives, and all they have, commit all to this Keeper, they would live with more joy; Thou saist, who will keep me? Who will keep mine? Oh remember a better Keeper then if thou hadst all the Monarchs in the world; Whence then arise your fears and doubts, but because you are your own Keepers, or Friends must keep, or such an Estate, and so much wealth must keep you; See what David tels us, Psal. 121.1. Except the Lord keep the City even the Watchmen watcheth in vain; Though he watch and doe not sleep, yet there must be a better Keeper: Say so of thy House, of thy Family, of thy Children, and of all outward worldly things.
