Gospel-conversation

Fifthly, God gives wicked men a portion here, to show unto them what little good there is in all these things, and to show the world what little good there is in all the things that are here below in the world. Certainly, if there were much good they should never have them; it is an argument there is no great excellency in the strength of body, for an Ox hath it more than you: an argument there is no great excellency in agility of body, for a Dog hath it more than you: an argument no great excellency in gay clothes, for a Peacock hath then more than you: an argument there is not any great excellency in Gold & Silver, for the Indians that know not God, have them more than you and if these things had any great worth in them, certainly God would never give them to wicked men, a certain argument: As it is an argument there is no great evil in afflictions in this world, because that the Saints are so much afflicted; So no great argument, there is any great good in this world, for the wicked they enjoy so much of it. Luther hath such an expression as this is, in his Comment upon Genesis, saith he, The Turkish Empire, as great as it is, it is but a crumb, that the master of the family, that God casts to dogs: the whole Turkish Empire, such an esteem had Luther of it: and indeed it is no more. All the things of the world, God in giving of them to Turks, and wicked ones, His enemies, shows there ⟨p. 307⟩is not much excellency and good in them, God therefore will cast them promiscuously up and down in the world, because he looks upon them as worthless things; God doth not so much regard whether men be prepared to give him the glory of them, yea or no, they shall have them however, He is content to venture them: Indeed when God comes unto His choice Mercies in Christ, there he looks to have glory from them, and he doth never give them to any, but first he prepares them, that they may give him the glory of those mercies: but it is otherwise with others; As suppose you see a man gathering of Crabs, although Swine be under the Tree, he cares not much to drive them away, they are but Crabs, let them have them; but if he were gathering any choice and precious fruit, if any Swine should come under, he drives them away. As for outward things Crabs, the Lord suffers the Swine of the world, to come grunting, and take them up;

Fifthly, God gives wicked men a portion here, to shew unto them what little good there is in all these things, and to shew the world what little good there is in all the things that are here below in the world. Certainly, if there were much good they should never have them; it is an argument there is no great excellency in the strength of body, for an Ox hath it more than you: an argument there is no great excellency in agility of body, for a Dog hath it more than you: an argument no great excellency in gay cloathes, for a Peacock hath then more than you: an argument there is not any great excellency in Gold & Silver, for the Indians that know not God, have them more than you and if these things had any great worth in them, certainly God would never give them to wicked men, a certain argument: As it is an argument there is no great evil in afflictions in this world, because that the Saints are so much afflicted; So no great argument, there is any great good in this world, for the wicked they enjoy so much of it. Luther hath such an expression as this is, in his Comment upon Genesis, saith he, The Turkish Empire, as great as it is, it is but a crum, that the master of the family, that God casts to dogs: the whol Turkish Empire, such an esteem had Luther of it: and indeed it is no more. All the things of the world, God in giving of them to Turks, and wicked ones, His enemies, shews there