Gospel-conversation

Seventhly, By this that God gives to the wicked, the Lord shows, what great things he hath reserved for his own Children; what a portion there is for them; Surely if the dogs have so much, the Father keeps a good house; if the hangbyes may have such doles, certainly there is good provision for the Children within: As by the afflictions of the Saints, God doth declare to wicked men, and would have them draw such an argument from it, that there are fearful things, that are like to befall them; If judgment begin at the House of God, where shall the wicked and ungodly appear? So by the prosperity that wicked men have in this world, God doth declare to his Children, and he would have them argue from thence, what then hath he reserved for his beloved Ones? for his Saints, for his Children, that are so dear unto him?

Seventhly, By this that God gives to the wicked, the Lord shews, what great things he hath reserved for his own Children; what a portion there is for them; Surely if the dogs have so much, the Father keeps a good house; if the hangbyes may have such doles, certainly there is good provision for the Children within: As by the afflictions of the Saints, God doth declare to wicked men, and would have them draw such an argument from it, that there are fearful things, that are like to befal them; If judgment begin at the House of God, where shall the wicked and ungodly appear? So by the prosperity that wicked men have in this world, God doth declare to his Children, and he would have them argue from thence, what then hath he reserved for his beloved Ones? for his Saints, for his Children, that are so dear unto him?

Eighthly. God fetches a great deal of Glory from hence, He fetches about His own ends very much, from the portion ⟨p. 309⟩that wicked men have; as sometimes He doth it, that they might stumble and harden their hearts, and break their necks at it, and to ripen their sins; hence He lets them go on a long time, and have their wills; in Isa. 33. 1. Woe to thee who spoilest, and wert not spoiled, and dealest treacherously, and wert not dealt treacherously withal; when thou shalt cease to spoil, thou shalt be spoiled; I'll let thee go on, thou shalt spoil as much as thou wilt, and when thou hast done spoiling, thou shalt be spoiled. And sometimes God doth it, to fetch about this end, Namely, to chastise. His own people, with the prosperity of the wicked: And as an Ancient writer hath this Story of one that (he saith) by an extraordinary way, from being a Monk was advanced into an Episcopal Seat, and being a lewd wicked man, he began to be proud of this his Advancement, and being proud, he heard these words in the story, Ab angelo audivit, Cur superbus ô infaelix, non es creatus Episcopus, quia tu dignus, sed quia Civitas haec digna fuit tali Episcopi; it was a wicked place, and this was the answer: Why art thou so proud Oh unhappy man, for thou art not advanced because thou art worthy of this advancement, but because this City is so ill; it is worthy of such a Prelate to be over it: In way of judgment to that place God advanced such a man: And so many are advanced that they may be heavy judgments unto others; God gives them such a portion, not out of His love to them (though they are ready to gather the Argument) but out of His displeasure unto others: And then He gives a plentiful portion to many, to teach us all to do good unto our enemies, not only humanitati (as they say) but homini, not only to human nature, but to men, to men that are wicked, some good must be done unto them.