Discourses upon the Existence and Attributes of God

In Wars, whereby flourishing Kingdoms are overthrown, God hath the chief hand; in reference to which it is observed, that in the two Prophets, Isaiah and Jeremiah, God is called the Lord of Hosts 130 times. 'Tis not the Sword of the Captain, but the Sword of the Lord, bears the first rank; The Sword of the Lord and of Gideon. Judg. 7.18. The Sword of a Conqueror is the Sword of the Lord, and receives its Charge and Commission from the great Sovereign. Jerem. 47.6, 7. We are apt, to confine our thoughts to second Causes, lay the fault upon the miscarriages of persons, the Ambition of the one, and the Covetousness of another, and regard them not as the effects of Gods sovereign Authority, linking second Causes together, to serve his own purpose. The skill of one man may lay open the folly of a Counsellor, an earthly force may break in pieces the power of a mighty Prince. But Job in his consideration of those things, refers the matter higher. Job 12.18. He looseth the bond of Kings, and girdeth their ⟨p. 743⟩Loins with a girdle. He looseth the Bonds of Kings, i. •, takes off the yokes, they lay upon their Subjects; and girds their Loins with a girdle; A Cord as the Vulgar; he lays upon them those fetters they framed for others, such a girdle or band as is the mark of Captivity, as the words ver. 19. confirm it. He leads Princes away spoiled, and overthrows the mighty. God lifts up some to a great height, and casts down others to a disgraceful ruin. All those changes in the face of the World, the revolutions of Em•ires▪ the desolating and ravaging wars which are often immediately the birth of the Vice, Ambition, and fury of Princes, are the Royal Acts of God as Governor of the World. All Government belongs to him, he is the Fountain of all the Great and the Petty Dominions in the World: And therefore may place in them what substitutes and Vicegerents he pleaseth; As a Prince may remove his Officers at pleasure, and take their Commissions from them. The highest are settled by God, durante been placito, and not quamdiu been see g•ssrint. Those Princes that have been the Glory of their Country, have swayed the Sceptre but a short time, when the more Wolvish ones have remained longer in Commission, as God hath seen fit for the ends of his own Sovereign Government.