THE Eternal Providence of the same God,1 who hath appointed his chosen Children to fight in this transitory and wretched life, a battle strong and difficile, hath also appointed their final victory by a marvellous fashion, and the manner of their preservation in their battle more marvellous; their victory standeth not in resisting,2 but in suffering; as our Sovereign Master pronounceth to his Disciples, that in patience they should possess their souls: And the same foresaw the Prophet, Isaiah, when that he painteth forth all other battle to be with violence, tumult, and blood-shedding, but the victory of Gods people to be in quietness, silence and hope; meaning that all others that obtain victory, do enforce themselves to resist their adversaries, to shed blood, and to murder: But so do not the Elect of God, but all things they sustain at the commandment of him who hath appointed them to suffer; being most assuredly persuaded, that then only they triumph,3 when all wen judge them oppressed: For in the Cross of Christ always is included a secret and hid victory, never well known till the sufferer ⟨p. 82⟩appear all together to be (as it were) exterminate; for then only did the blood of Abel cry to God, when proud Cain judged all memory of his brother to have been extinguished; and so (I say) their victory is marvellous, and how that they can be preserved and not brought to utter confusion, the eye of man perceiveth not:4 But he, whose power is infinite, by secret and hid motions, toucheth the hearts of such as to mans judgment hath power to destroy them, with very piety and compassion to save his people, as (in times past) he did the hearts of the Egyptian Midwives, to preserve the men-children of the Israelites, when command was given of Pharaoh for their destruction.5 The heart of Pharaohs daughter likewise, to pity Moses in his young infancy, exposed to the danger of the waters. The heart of Nebuchadnezzar to preserve the Captives alive,6 and liberally to nourish the Children that were found apt to Letters: And finally, The heart of Cyrus, to set at liberty the people of God, after long bondage and thraldom. And thus doth the invisible power and love of God, manifest it self towards his Elect from time to time, for two causes specially.7
THE Eternall Providence of the same God,1 who hath appointed his chosen Children to fight in this transistory and wretched life, a battell strong and difficile, hath also appointed their finall victory by a marvellous fashion, and the manner of their preservation in their battell more marvellous; their victory standeth not in resisting,2 but in suffering; as our Soveraign Master pronounceth to his Disciples, that in patience they should possesse their soules: And the same foresaw the Prophet, Esay, when that he painteth forth all other battell to be with violence, tumult, and blood-shedding, but the victory of Gods people to be in quietnesse, silence and hope; meaning that all others that obtain victorie, do enforce themselves to resist their adversaries, to shed bloood, and to murther: But so do not the Elect of God, but all things they sustain at the commandment of him who hath appointed them to suffer; being most assuredly perswaded, that then onely they triumph,3 when all wen judge them oppressed: For in the Crosse of Christ alwayes is included a secret and hid victory, never well known till the sufferer ⟨p. 82⟩appear all together to be (as it were) exterminate; for then onely did the blood of Abel crie to God, when proud Cain judged all memory of his brother to have been extinguished; and so (I say) their victory is marvellous, and how that they can be preserved and not brought to utter confusion, the eye of man perceiveth not:4 But he, whose power is infinite, by secret and hid motions, toucheth the hearts of such as to mans judgment hath power to destroy them, with very pietie and compassion to save his people, as (in times past) he did the hearts of the Egyptian Midwives, to preserve the men-children of the Israelites, when command was given of Pharoah for their destruction.5 The heart of Pharaohs daughter likewise, to pitty Moses in his young infancy, exposed to the danger of the waters. The heart of Nabuchadnezzar to preserve the Captives alive,6 and liberally to nourish the Children that were found apt to Letters: And finally, The heart of Cyrus, to set at liberty the people of God, after long bondage and thraldome. And thus doth the invisible power and love of God, manifest it self towards his Elect from time to time, for two causes specially.
- 1Gen. 3. Matt•. 10. Act. 4.
- 2Matth. 5. Joh. 14 16. Isaiah. 9.Matth. 5. Joh. 14 16. Esay. 9.
- 3In the Cross of Christ i• victory hid.In the Crosse of Christ i• victory hid.
- 4Isaiah 40.41.51.Esay 40.41.51.
- 5Exod. 2.
- 64 Reg. 25. Jerem 52. Esd. 1.
- 7Note.
