Chap. 2I. <win Expofition upon the Tookof J o a. Vert 7. wicked men profper , who indeed deferve not to live in the world, nor why godlymen, of whom the world doth not de- ferve, fuffer fo much while they live., As the world is not wor- thy that it fhould have godlymen to live in it, fo ungodly men are not worthy to live in the world ; How then fhall we an- fwer iffelf-worthineffe carry it, when commonly Ids worf with the belt, and belt with the worlt. Againe, The word wherefore may have reference to lob's o une doubt ; wicked men profper, why doe they profper ? Wherefore doe the wicked live ? And this is a quwre which bath all along troubled the fpirits of the Saints, efpecially in thole times, nor are they alwayes or eafily fatisfied in thefeabout it; many were then puzzled, and fo they are nowwhen they fee wicked men profper, and godly men affli ted. That a wick- ed man is vexed or afflieted, noman wonders at it, every one can tell why, and give you a wherefore : but that he should live, and profper, this is hard to refolve. Againe, that a godlyman is blelt, and thrives, and lives comfortably, no man wonders at this ; for he bath the promifes ofthis life as well as of that which is tocome. But to feegodly men afíiiéted, trod under foote,and ftript ofall: thefe difpenfatlons put many to a stand; Wherefore is it that the wicked profper ? and wherefore to it that thegodly areafjliEted? That God is juft,a godly manknow. eth, and faith as Abraham (Gen. 18. 2.5.) Shall not the judge of all the earth doe right ?God is jult, and therefore doth jufily. The peopleofGod have it alwayes upon their fpirits, to ho- nour God thus. And they give him glory in that other prin- cip;e which David affects (Pfal. 5. 5.) That the foolil lhall net fi'and in hisfight, and he hates all workersofiniquitie. There things are ur.quelionable with them, and therefore they are often (canningupon,qusfiöning and enquiringabout this point, Why doe the wicked profper ? Hence obferve ; It is tome trouble to good men tofee evil men f ouri/h and live Pee from trouble. It bath been to, and 'cis fo to this day ; many a good man bath had much adoe to digeft this morfel,and to get above this ,temptation. While David admonifheth(Pfal, 37. I.) Fret not 0 000 thy
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