And therefore that Godly Widow Naomi, who was in great Bitterness for the death of both her Sons, said, Ruth 1.21. The Lord has Testified against me, the Almighty has Afflicted me, and dealt very Bitterly ⟨p. 39⟩with me. So Job when he lost not only his Estate, but his Children too, in one dismal Day, says, Job 1.21. The Lord has taken away, Blessed be the Name of the Lord. It was a Stormy Wind that took away his Children from him, which he was not unacquainted with; but for all that he said, It is the Lord that has done it. And if Personal Afflictions are from the Providence of God, then much more may it be said, and ought to be believed concerning Public Judgments, that the Word of the Lord is in them. If a People is Afflicted with scarcity of Provision, it is God that orders such an Affliction for them. Amos 4.6. I (says the Lord) have given you cleanness of Teeth, and want of Bread. If there is want of Rain, it is the Lord that has called for a Drought on the Land: ver. 7. I withheld the Rain from you, I caused it to Rain on one City, and caused it not to Rain on another City. Or, if there are Blastings on the Fruits of the Earth, it is the Lord that brings that Affliction. ver. 9. I have smitten you w•th Blastings & Mildew. Or, if noxious Creatures are multiplied to the Destruction of the Fruits of the Earth, it is God that has sent them. The Caterpillar, ⟨p. 40⟩and the Palmer-worm, (says God) they were my great Army which I sent among you. So when Contagious, Epidemical and Mortal, Diseases break in upon a People, it is the Lord that has sent that Besom of Destruction among them. When the Pestilence was in Egypt, and there was not one House throughout the Land but the Plague was in it, it was God that sent it. Psal 78.50. He delivered their Lives unto the Pestilence. The like is to be said concerning that Calamity of War, it is the Lord that sends it. He makes Peace, and He Creates Evil. That Judgment of the Sword is by way of Eminency called, Evil. Isa. 45.7. When the Reubenites made War upon the Hagarites, and overcame an hundred Thousand of them, tis said, 1 Chron. 5.22. The War was of God. Afterwards, the Reubenites were overcome by the Assyrians, who Killed many, and Captivated many, now tis said, ver. 26. That the God of Israel stirred up the spirit of the King of Assyria, who carried them away.
And therefore that Godly Widow Naomi, who was in great Bitterness for the death of both her Sons, said, Ruth 1.21. The Lord has Testified against me, the Almighty has Afflicted me, and dealt very Bitterly ⟨p. 39⟩with me. So Iob when he lost not only his Estate, but his Children too, in one dismal Day, sayes, Job 1.21. The Lord has taken away, Blessed be the Name of the Lord. It was a Stormy Wind that took away his Children from him, which he was not unacquainted with; but for all that he said, It is the Lord that has done it. And if Personal Afflictions are from the Providence of God, then much more may it be said, and ought to be believed concerning Publick Judgments, that the Word of the Lord is in them. If a People is Afflicted with scarcity of Provision, it is God that orders such an Affliction for them. Amos 4.6. I (sayes the Lord) have given you cleanness of Teeth, and want of Bread. If there is want of Rain, it is the Lord that has called for a Drought on the Land: ver. 7. I witheld the Rain from you, I caused it to Rain on one City, and caused it not to Rain on another City. Or, if there are Blastings on the Fruits of the Earth, it is the Lord that brings that Affliction. ver. 9. I have smitten you w•th Blastings & Mildew. Or, if noxious Creatures are multiplied to the Destruction of the Fruits of the Earth, it is God that has sent them. The Caterpiller, ⟨p. 40⟩and the Palmer-worm, (sayes God) they were my great Army which I sent among you. So when Contagious, Epidemical and Mortal, Diseases break in upon a People, it is the Lord that has sent that Besome of Destruction among them. When the Pestilence was in Egypt, and there was not one House throughout the Land but the Plague was in it, it was God that sent it. Psal 78.50. He delivered their Lives unto the Petilence. The like is to be said concerning that Calamity of War, it is the Lord that sends it. He makes Peace, and He Creates Evil. That Judgment of the Sword is by way of Eminency called, Evil. Isa. 45.7. When the Reubenites made War upon the Hagarites, and overcame an hundred Thousand of them, tis said, 1 Chron. 5.22. The War was of God. Afterwards, the Reubenites were overcome by the Assyrians, who Killed many, and Captivated many, now tis said, ver. 26. That the God of Israel stirred up the spirit of the King of Assyria, who carried them away.
