The ù z acts F"uneral. S + By thefearts anddevices, it corneth to pats, thatwicked men prolong themfelves intheir wickednefs. Traitorous Zimri indeed continued but.feven dayes; that was not long : wicked fehep:chin reignedbui three months in Jerufalein, that was not long : ungodly Amon reigned two years in ferufalem, that was not long Ahab g idolatrous b reigned in Samaria twenty and two years, that was indifferent long : cruel Herod the King, who fought to kill Chrift, reigned in Judea well nigh fortyyeses , that was long indeed; heprolonged himfeif to purpofe in his iniquity. Seeing therefore (td recolle& what hathbeen laid) the righteousbathmolt foes; the wicked many friends; the righteous free from,the wicked full of jealoufies ; the righteous toooften over-carelefs, the wickedover-carefulin his defence; the righ- teouslimitedonly to lawful, the wicked left loofe to any meansfor his ownadvan- tage ; No wonder if it often cometh to pats, that the righteousman' perifhetb in his righteournefs,and thewickedprolangeth his life in his wickednefä. Come we now to theabufes which wicked men make of the righteousmanspr- rifbingin his righteoufnefs. And here the whole kennel ofAtheifts tonne in with a full cry, ( oh that there were no more of them on earth, than therearc in hell, where torturemakes themall fpeak truth) (pending their wicked breath againft God and his attributes. Somebark athis Providence,as ifhe perceived not theft things,; Flom dolt God know , and is there knowledge in the mofl high "? Others cavil at his juftice, that he has no mind ; otherscarp at his ftrength, that hehas no power to re&ifie and redrefs thefe . enormities. This world (faythey) is a (hip without a pilot, fteered only with the winds and waves of calbalty . it is a mear lottery, wherein the beft men daily draw the blanks, and a worft run away with the prizes. And, as Abfolom boafted, ifhe were kinghf lfrael, how far he wouldout- do David in right managing of all matters : fo thefe impudent wretches conceive with themfelves, the Platform ofthe world hath ¡Icenmore perfe&,might they have been admitted to the making thereof. TheMoon would have fhined without any (pots, Roles grow without anyPrickles,fair weatherfhould never have done harm, becaufe rain fhould only fall is the night, neither to hinder the pleafuroof the rich, òr hurt the profit of the poor. Merit lhould be made the only ftandardof pre- ferment ; noperifhing of the righteousmanin .his righteoufnefs, wben fuccefs fhould only be entailed on defert. In a word, fuch Atheifts prefume all things by them fhouldbe fóprudently difpofed, that nothing, no doubt, in thewholeworld lhould be out oforder, fave themfelves. More might be fpoken to heighten and prove the obje&ion, but I am afraid to perfift further therein. It is not only dangerous to be, but even to a&an Atheift, though with intent to confute their error, for fear that our poilons pierce further thanour antidotes. But in anfwer to this objeftion ; know,thatGod,withoutthe leaft prejudice to his juaice, may fulfer the righteous man toperil inhis righteouf- neft, becaufe allow him righteous jufáitia caufa; he is not fo julititia perfona, the belt man ftanding guilty of many faults and failings ha his fight. God needs not picks quarrelwittiany man, havingat alltimes matter ofa jut' controverfie againft him. And Seeing Godhath oftentimes connived athim being faulty, he may con- demn him being faultlefs; for, nallum tempos occterritRegi, the King ofheaven is not limited to any time, but at his ownpleafure and leafure may take anopportu- nity to punifh an offender. Secondly, grant that the caufeof the righteous manwas juftin the primitive con- ftit,arion thereof, yet if it branch it felf forth into numerous circumftances appen- dant thereunto, (many whereofmay be intricate andperplext) ifitbe offo.fpaci- t ns and ponderous a nature that it requires manyheadsand handsas fubordinate in- ftruments in feveral places for the managing thereof. Laftly, if the caufe be fo pro- lix and tedious, that many years muffbe fpentin theprofecution thereof, the ori- ginal righteoufnefs of the caafe may be already with the handlingof it, and much injuftice annexed thereunto, for which God maj juffly caufe it finally to mifcarry. For it is potlible that a caufe conlifting of fuch variety of limbsretaining thereunto, fhouldbe carried on without many grand errors and miftakes committed therein', Ffff and I 16 ! King 1.5. I,. a Kmg. 84' 8' i King.:. 19. tKing iD.sD, 57. iE. V(aI. 73.-ii. : sam. tj,4.
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