The Fountain of Life Opened

Here the wicked devoureth the man that is more righteous than himself, Hab. 1.14. As the fishes of the Sea, where the great and strong swallow up the small and weak. And even in Courts of Judicature, where the innocent might expect relief; there they often meet with the worst oppressions. How fairly and justly therefore doth the wise man infer a Judgement to come from this consideration?¹ Eccles. 3.16, 17. I saw under the Sun the place of Judgement, that wickedness was there, and the place of righteousness, that iniquity was there; I said in my heart, God shall Judge the righteous and the wicked; for there is a time there for every purpose, and for every work, q. d. the Judgement to come is the only relief and support left to poor innocents, to quiet and Comfort themselves withal. To the same purpose also is that, Jam. 5.6, 7. Ye have condemned, and killed the Just; and he doth not resist you; be patient therefore brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. It is confessed, that sometimes God vindicates his providence against the Atheism of the world, by particular strokes upon the wicked; but this is but rare. And as the Father well observes, if no sin were punished here, no providence would be believed; again, if every sin were openly punished here, no Judgement hereafter could be expected. Besides,

Here the wicked devoureth the man that is more righteous than himself, Hab. 1.14. As the fishes of the Sea, where the great and strong swallow up the small and weak. And even in Courts of Judicature, where the innocent might expect relief; there they often meet with the worst oppressions. How fairly and justly therefore doth the wise man infer a Judgement to come from this consideration?¹ Eccles. 3.16, 17. I saw under the Sun the place of Iudgement, that wickedness was there, and the place of righteousness, that iniquity was there; I said in my heart, God shall Iudge the righteous and the wicked; for there is a time there for every purpose, and for every work, q. d. the Judgement to come is the only relief and support left to poor innocents, to quiet and Comfort themselves withal. To the same purpose also is that,