All these means Gods providence useth, first that he might show his goodness towards us: secondly, that he might be known to be the Lord over all, thirdly, that we might be thankful, because he not only himself governeth us, but also maketh his creatures to serve our ⟨image 24⟩turns. Ma••ie this must be noted (as I said before) that in all these secondary causes, beside their natural work, which God hath given them, there is also the special work of God his special h•d showed. God worketh not by second causes as Magistrates govern their common wealths by their inferior officers. For they so govern by them, that they do nothing or very little themselves▪ and peradventure never know what is done. God governeth not the world so, but in every particular work, he hath his particular stroke. That the thunder burneth, moveth, hurteth, it is the general providence of God: but that it burneth, or hurteth this or that man, on this or that part, in this or that manner, it is the special providence of the same God. The Lord hath s••wed his special providence in one excellent example. If the hatchet, (saith God) fall forth of the hand of him which loppeth the tree, and kill a man in the way, I the Lord have killed him. God also governeth the world immediately, and ⟨image 24⟩his providence worketh without means, and many things he bringeth to pass against all means, which is manifest by that of Matthew. Man liveth not by bread only, but by every word which proceedeth out of the mouth of God. For example without means. The spirit of God did move upon the waters, and cover them in the creation immediately. The first garment which was made, was of leather, and God alone without means made it. Noah in the Ark was preserved by God alone an whole year against the force of the waters, without means did he keep the shoes and garments of the Israelites whole forty years. He alone justifieth, sanctifieth, and converteth a sinner, against the course of nature he made the sea to divide it self, the sun to go backward, the fire not to burn the 3. children, the Lyons not to devour Daniel. The causes of this, are these. 1 That we may know when God worketh by causes, he doth by no necessity, but freely. 2. that we might know when God useth means, ⟨image 25⟩that then he is not idle, but worketh all in all. 3.
All these meanes Gods prouidence vseth, first that he might shew his goodnesse towards vs: secondly, yt hee might be known to be the Lord ouer al, thirdly, that we might be thankeful, because he not onely himself gouerneth vs, but also maketh his creatures to serue our ⟨image 24⟩turnes. Ma••ie this must be noted (as I said before) that in all these secondarie causes, beside their naturall worke, which God hathe giuen them, there is also the speciall worke of God his speciall h•d showed. God worketh not by second causes as Magistrates gouerne their comon wealths by their inferiour officers. For they so gouerne by them, that they doe nothing or very little themselues▪ and peraduenture neuer know what is done. God gouerneth not the world so, but in euery perticuler worke, he hath his perticuler stroke. That the thunder burneth, moueth, hurteth, it is the generall prouidence of God: but that it burneth, or hurteth this or that manne, on this or that part, in this or that manner, it is the special prouidence of ye same God. The Lord hath s••wed his special prouidence in one excellent example. If the hatchet, (sayth God) fall forth of the hand of him whiche loppeth the tree, and kill a man in the way, I the Lord haue killed him. God also gouerneth the worlde immediately, and ⟨image 24⟩hys prouydence woorketh without meanes, and manie thinges he bringeth to passe agaynst all meanes, which is manifest by that of Matthew. Man liueth not by bread onely, but by euerie worde which proceedeth out of the mouth of God. For example without meanes. The spirite of God did moue vpon the waters, and couer them in the creation immediatly. The first garment which was made, was of leather, and God alone without means made it. Noe in the Arke was preserued by God alone an whole yeare against the force of the waters, without meanes did he keepe the shoes and garmentes of the Israelites whole fortie yeares. He alone ius•ifieth, sanctifieth, and conuerteth a sinner, against the course of nature he made ye sea to diuide it self, the sun to go backward, the fire not to burne the 3. children, the Lyons not to deuour Daniel. The causes of this, are these. 1 That we may knowe when God worketh by causes, he doth by no necessitie, but freely. 2. that wee might know when God vseth meanes, ⟨image 25⟩that then he is not idle, but worketh al in all. 3.
