Downame - BV209_D69_G6_1640_v1

,50 I& what ref ec Cod heareth the wicked. Gen.21.17. And thus alfo he heareth the cry of the young ravens, and lions ,and of the refl of the crea- tures, giving them their food in due feafon, Pfal. 147. 9. and 104. 2I, 27, 28. and 145. 15. Which I do the rather note for the comfort of the faithfull : For if the Lord doth heare the cry not onely of carnali men but alfo of thofe creatures which want reafon, yea fometimes of the devil himfelf, Mark 8. 12. Job i . and 2. how íhail he not heare the cry of his own children 3. As a fevere Judge the Lord heareth the wic- ked, granting unto them temporali things in his wrath, which it were better for them to want. Thus he granted flefh to the impenitent Ifraelites, fed themwith quails: but while the fief)) wtis between their teeth he flruck them with a grievous plague, and they were burned in Kibroth- hattaavah, that is, the graves of lufl, Num. I I. 3 r. So in his anger, when they would needs have a king, he granted a king unto them, i .Sam.8.7. Hof.' 3.1 r. And thus when worldlings, whofe hearts are wholly ad- dic ed to earthly things, defiring and begging them, the Lord in his anger giveth them over to their own lulls, and fatisfieth their delire, giving them their portion in this life, Pfal. 17. 14. where they receive their goodthings, Luke 16.25. and all the confolation they are to look for, Luke 6.24. whereas to them thatfirft fek Gods kingdome and his righteoufneffe, he doth not onely give that which principally, they feek; but alfo by way ofadvantage over and betides he giveth them temporali blef ings as fhall be moll convenient for them.. So God hear- eth the wic- ked as a fe- vere Judge.