3 3 a Chap. 28. In Exfofrtion upon the book, of a o B. Verf. z6. ends, fo alfo for ends facred and fpiritual , as firf, to firike men with an awe of his Majefy ; fecoadly, to fir themup to repen- tance ; thirdly, toabate their prideand humble them ; fourthly, to puni(h the proud and unhumbled, who warringagainf heaven, he proclaimes again(' them from heaven, and fometimes actually tiìootes them dead with his Thunderbolts, or blafds themwith his Lightning. But Tomeebjea ; If God maker away for the lightning of the thunder ; How comes it to pafs that the lightning and thunder Pewfo often to mifr or rniflake their way ? Whence is it that they fometimes frike good men either in theirperfons or goods ; and that the wickedmot timeslefcaóe the froak and danger of them? Ianfwer ; God bath not appointed any of his outward difpenfa- rions whether of good or evil robe the markofdifin&ion be- tweengood and evil men. Solomon thus determined this Qefion (Etc!, g. a,) No man knoweth either love or hatred by all that is before them 7. and (though all men are not alike, yet,)all things come alike to all ; there s thefame event to the righteous and to the wicked. God would have us learn to make adifference of men, by what we fee ofGod in them , and by their walking according to the mind of God, not by what himfelf is pleated todoe upon them, or with them.And therefore he makes the wayof the thun- der lye fometimes to the houle and perfon of the righteous, that menmay not find his way, but fear and honour him both for his Relator Our, word and workes. Lightning and Thunderbolts do not fly at brute fulmina, random (as bullets in a battle do not) nor frike without di- awe nulIavee. re &ion at hap hazzard him that is next, (as fome heathens Want narur a ttouobr ), but arc guided b y an unerrin g mark, hand to their when ratione,cenfeta- b b Plir;us. we are ready to fay they have miffed their mark. And thus muck Fatonon ire forne Heathens have acknowledged,. Thunderbolts (faith one of fulmina,fed them) goe not by chance, but by a certain 'guidance order and de.. ferri 1Yira eras ; the works or workings ofthe Thunder are wonderful, if thau fulmanirftan wilt but ferioufy confider them, and leave not the deaf} fcruple cues yeti, ape in the mind concernin this 'Orton, that there is a divinepower era - fifer, rase s ncerni g P tqtcquant dubij them. The lo>vdnefs, the fwiftnefs, the forceabhenefs, the mar- reingoentia vellous effoSs of lightning and thunder, doe all proclaim the glo. gu in divine ious name of God. And therefore as thunder is a great work of ænfttallss God inNatura,fo the greater works of God in Providence have fkbtilirpoten t Seneca, bean done in thunder, or expreffed by ir. The Law was given in Them
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