A brief exposition with practical observations upon the whole book of Ecclesiastes by that…A briefe exposition with practicall observations upon the whole book of Ecclesiastes by that…

Reason 2. From the power of God to have brought to ⟨p. 192⟩pass any ends of his own and ours in dealing bountifully with the godly, and justly with the wicked, if it had pleased him. Though sanctified affliction be wholesome to the godly, yet God was able to have humbled and healed them without such outward crosses and afflictions. The spirit of grace could do it effectually by the word. That God chooseth rather to do it by afflictions, what man can find the reason? Or if some reason might be rendered in regard of our fellowship with the first Adam in sin and vanity, and with the second Adam in afflictions, yet why might not God have chosen rather to afflict the godly in the inner man, then in the outward man? and why might not the wicked have undergone greater afflictions in this world?

Reason 2. From the power of God to have brought to ⟨p. 192⟩passe any ends of his own and ours in dealing bountifully with the godly, and justly with the wicked, if it had pleased him. Though sanctified affliction be wholsome to the godly, yet God was able to have humbled and healed them without such outward crosses and afflictions. The spirit of grace could doe it effectually by the word. That God chooseth rather to doe it by afflictions, what man can finde the reason? Or if some reason might be rendred in regard of our fellowship with the first Adam in sin and vanity, and with the second Adam in afflictions, yet why might not God have chosen rather to afflict the godly in the inner man, then in the outward man? and why might not the wicked have undergone greater afflictions in this world?

Reason. 3. From the free choice which God maketh of some men (both of the good and of the bad) to deal well with some of both sorts, and to deal sharply with others of both sorts, Job 21.23, 24, 25.