Chap. zo vin. Expofstion upon the Bookof J o a. Verf. 29 6ot fervice. They who are evill, may doe that which is good, for the matter, in the eyes of God. For though it be not poffible to pleafe God without faith ( Heb. I I. 7.) yet it is poffìble to ferve himwithout faith, or though God be never pleafed with theperfon doing a worke without faith, yet he may be pleafed with that worke which is done without faith. A wick- ed man may doe what God would have done, that pleafeth him, and he throws him in fomewhat as wages for his worke; fometimes, very great wages. ?elm, a wicked man, a man of a naughty heart, yet he did the worke that was in Gods heart, in deftroying Ahab; houle. Nov, faithGod, take the Thronefor fouregenerations, a great reward, a whole Kingdome, and for foure Generations to a wicked man (a Kings1o.3o.) God will not be behind. hand with any. They that have been i nirumen- tall for him, (hall have fo much as their worke comes to ; they who doe it for a temporoll reward ( many wiil be very zealous for an outwardly reali reformation, both in matters of Religion and civili adminiftration, while not onely their hearts are unchanged, but their lives unreformed, and all this they doe to fet themfelves up in a worldly intereft, now, even thefe) (hall have their penny,they fhall not loofe their reward. Thirdly, There is a kind ofneceffitie that foure wicked men fhould rife high, and be great, that they may be fitted to doe theworks which God hath appointed ; as thofe others (of whom I fpake Taft) are railed high to reward and pay them for the worke which they have done. As Firft F.ir the fcourging ofother wicked men.God fullers one wicked man to pro{per to vexanother. Sometimes he fcourg- eth a whole Nation, by one wicked man ; therefore he muff profper much. Ulually there is a proportion betweene the worke and theinürument. Great (courges are made of Great men. Secondly, For the trying of his owne people ; if wicked men were not high, powerfull, and profperous they could not perfecute the righteous. They reho will livegodly in Chrif ?eras, mart ¡weer perfecution. And there are tome kinds ofperfecurion whichungodly men ( though they never want will, yet )can- not at till they havegotten power. Weake ones can mocke and fcofre ; but they who kill and deftroy mutt be thong. I-1 h h lá Fourth..
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