3. We do not honour God as the first Cause, when we do not observe his Providence, either in Good or Evil, either in our Crosses or Blessings. The blind World sets up an Idol called Chance and Fortune, and do not acknowledge God at the other End of Causes, as swaying all things by his Wisdom and Power. If Evil come to them, they think it is by Chance and Ill-luck, as the Philistines said, 1 Sam. 6.9. It is not his Hand that smote us, it was a Chance that happened to us. So profanely do most Men judg of Providence, and of the Evil of the present Life, that it is a Chance. Isa. 26.11. Lord! when thy Hand is lifted up, they will not see. Men look to Instruments, and second Causes, and do not regard God. If things go ill, they snarl at the Stone, but do not look at the Hand of him that throws it; as if all this while God were but an idle Spectator and looker on, and had no hand in all that befalls us. Job doth better, Chap. 1.21. The Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away, blessed be the Name of the Lord. Chrysostom hath a sweet gloss upon it; he doth not say, [Greek or Hebrew], the Thief, the Chaldean, the Sabean hath taken away, but the Lord. In all Afflictions we should look beyond the Creature, and not complain of ill Fortune, or Chance, or Stars, or Constellations, or altogether of Men, or Instruments, or any thing on this side God; he is the first Cause in any Evil that befalls you, therefore see God's Hand in it. So also in Mercies and Blessings, it is Ungodliness when we do not see God in them. Wicked Men receive Blessings, and never look up. They live upon God every moment; they have Life, Breath, Motion, Health, and hourly Maintenance from him, yet God is not in all their Thoughts. As Swine raven upon the Acorns, and never look to the Oak from whence they fall; and so they may enjoy the Comfort of the Creature, they are content, but never look higher than the next Hand. The Spouses Eyes are compared to Doves Eyes, Cant. 4.1. And some make this gloss upon it, (which is pious, though it doth not interpret the Place) Doves peck, and look upward. When we sip and peck upon every Grain of Mercy, we should look up and acknowledge God. The Lord complains of this Ungodliness in his People, Hos. 2.8. For she did not know that I gave her Corn, and Wine, and Oil, and multiplied her Silver and Gold.
3. We do not honour God as the first Cause, when we do not observe his Providence, either in Good or Evil, either in our Crosses or Blessings. The blind World sets up an Idol called Chance and Fortune, and do not acknowledg God at the other End of Causes, as swaying all things by his Wisdom and Power. If Evil come to them, they think it is by Chance and Ill-luck, as the Philistines said, 1 Sam. 6.9. It is not his Hand that smote us, it was a Chance that happened to us. So prophanely do most Men judg of Providence, and of the Evil of the present Life, that it is a Chance. Isa. 26.11. Lord! when thy Hand is lifted up, they will not see. Men look to Instruments, and second Causes, and do not regard God. If things go ill, they snarl at the Stone, but do not look at the Hand of him that throws it; as if all this while God were but an idle Spectator and looker on, and had no hand in all that befals us. Iob doth better, Chap. 1.21. The Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away, blessed be the Name of the Lord. Chrysostom hath a sweet gloss upon it; he doth not say, 〈non-Latin alphabet〉, the Thief, the Caldean, the Sabean hath taken away, but the Lord. In all Afflictions we should look beyond the Creature, and not complain of ill Fortune, or Chance, or Stars, or Constellations, or altogether of Men, or Instruments, or any thing on this side God; he is the first Cause in any Evil that befals you, therefore see God's Hand in it. So also in Mercies and Blessings, it is Ungodliness when we do not see God in them. Wicked Men receive Blessings, and never look up. They live upon God every moment; they have Life, Breath, Motion, Health, and hourly Maintenance from him, yet God is not in all their Thoughts. As Swine raven upon the Acorns, and never look to the Oak from whence they fall; and so they may enjoy the Comfort of the Creature, they are content, but never look higher than the next Hand. The Spouses Eyes are compared to Doves Eyes, Cant. 4.1. And some make this gloss upon it, (which is pious, though it doth not interpret the Place) Doves peck, and look upward. When we sip and peck upon every Grain of Mercy, we should look up and acknowledg God. The Lord complains of this Ungodliness in his People, Hos. 2.8. For she did not know that I gave her Corn, and Wine, and Oil, and multiplied her Silver and Gold.
