A Divine Cordial

5. See here the wisdom of God,¹ who can make the worst things imaginable turn to the ⟨p. 76⟩good of the Saints; he can by a divine Chemistry extract Gold out of dross. [Greek or Hebrew] — O the depth of the wisdom of God! Rom. 11.33. It is Gods great design to set forth the wonder of his wisdom. The Lord made Josephs prison a step to preferment. There was no way for Jonah to be saved, but by being swallowed up. God suffered the Egyptians to hate Israel, Psal. 106.41. and this was the means of their deliverance. St Paul was bound with a Chain, and that Chain which did bind him was a means to enlarge the Gospel, Phil. 1.12. This wise Physician can of the Viper make a Treacle. God doth enrich by impoverishing, he causeth the augmentation of Grace by the diminution of an Estate: When the Creature goes further from us, it is that Christ may come nearer to us. God works strangely; he brings Order out of Confusion, Harmony out of Discord; he makes use many times of unjust men, to do that which is just: He is wise in heart, Job 10.4. He can reap his Glory out of mens fury^*, Psal. 76.10. Either the wicked shall not do the hurt which they intend, or they shall do the good which they do not intend. God often helps when there is least hope, and saves his people in that way, which they think he will destroy: He made use of the High-Priests malice and Judas his Treason, to redeem the World. God hath sometimes ⟨p. 77⟩much ado to please us; through indiscreet passion, we are apt to find fault with things that fall out; which is as if an illiterate man should censure Philosophy; or a blind man find fault with the work in a Landscape.