A word in season

Verse 4. The Righteous Lord hath cut the cords of the wicked.

These words are so full of consolation, that to the children of God in their calamities and afflictions, nothing can be more comfortable. For they know that no munitions, no furniture of war can be so strong. First of all therefore, weigh and consider why he calleth the Lord Righteous, and ye shall see that he so doth, because that, when a man considereth according to the judgment of the flesh, the things which are here done, and how God governeth and ruleth the same, it seemeth no otherwise but that he is unrighteous and unjust in supporting the tyranny of the wicked with great riches, power, dignity, &c. When reason seeth this, it can judg nothing else, but that if there be a God, he is unjust. For first of all thus doth reason gather: If there be a God, he is able to resist the wicked, and utterly to destroy them. For to be a God is to be Almighty. Again, thus carnal reason argueth: If there be a God, he must needs know those things which are done in the world; for it cannot be said of God, that he is ignorant of any thing. Now what else followeth hereof, but that if God know these things to be cruelly and unjustly done, and he is able to resist them, he ought also to be no less willing to do the same. For if we think that he will not do that which he knoweth and is able to do, it must follow that he is not good, but evil; not just, but unjust. Now lay these things together. If God have power, wisdom and goodness in him; if he be able to help; if he know how, and also be willing to help; why are all these things done and governed in the world in such sort, that the wicked have power, riches & dignity, as a reward of their impiety? and contrariwise the godly for their piety and godliness are many ways and most cruelly afflicted? All these things are a lively testimony against God, as before we said of Diogenes. This argument of Epicurus and such like Atheists, is to the flesh invincible. Wherefore reason being altogether blinded and wrapped in these snares, inclineth to this opinion, That there is no God, or else that he regardeth not the affairs of men.