6o An Ex, ofition upon Chap. .2. as we do not reft in it.Thirdly, if any of us be deceived in ethers to remember we are no Gods. T i M.Now tell us box God doth judge? S t L. God judgeth all perlons and things,truly as they are,becaufe he molt perfealy fèeth and knoweth all things, even the very fecrets of mans heart. T i M. What fbould this worke in us? S i L. Their things: Fiih, that with great care wee approve our lives unto God in all uprightneffe. And fecondly, that Gave Hours labour to be like unto God,endevouring what lyeth in them, to judge truly of persons and things. Thirdly, that wee reverence all Gods judgements,thongh they feem [hange to us. For the godleffe men, yea thorow weaknefle of judgement or fit ength of tempration,the godly too do thinke, and are ready to fpeak hardly of Gods government, either as if there were no divine providence, or as if it were not equal] paints and af$ietions , being the portion of good menmost commonly, and evil men wel rewarded with good things,as if they were good men, This humbled even lob, lerenoy, D avid: but all ou' carnal] thoughts mtift here fire faile, and give place to this Ora- cle ofGod, that his judgements now and hereafter, will be found jai, and juftly exectied. Which truth , as it ought to hop our mouths, and to a- wake our Cranky , that we peri(h not by hope of impunity, fo it affords un- doubted comfort againft confulions and apparent oppreflion, 2TbeJ. 2. 7. T i M. Why is the judgement of God unavoyda hie? S i L. Fitfi,beeauf of his omnipo- tency, whereby hee can draw all men before him.Secondly, becaufe ofhis de- cree whereby it is eftablii1hed.Laftly,wee cannot avoide the judgement of our own confcience,much lelse Gods judge- ment. TeM. What ufe was made ofthis truth? S e L. It (should move all men to a- mend themfelves, feting all men muff come to account. Secondly, it fhould worke in Rulers a great care of their affious,feeing they alfo cannot escape the judgement of God. DiALOOUY III. Verses 4, 5. Or defpife fl thou the riches of his bountiful. wife, andpatieac, And long fufferance; not knowing that the bountifallneffe of God leadeth thee to repentance? But thou after thy bardnef i,andheart that cannot repent, heapejl up and treafureff unto thy felfe wrath, against the day of wrath, andof the declaratiltn of the jufl judge- ment of God. TIMOTHEVS. Flrfifpeake fometbing to the method and difpofition of the Text,bow doh it agree with the former,and of what parts doch it confiji? S i L. T he bleffed Apoltledoth now bend himfelfe againft the vaine excn- fes and pretexts by which thofe fell- condemners doe deceive themfelves. The firft is the hope of impunity, by the lenity.of God, giving good things out of his bounty or kindneffe,bearing with the abufe of his benefits out of his patience, and forbearing a great while to punish, out of his long fufferance; therefore fay fanners, he will never pu nith. Hereupon as wanton Children or diffolute Schollers,which espy the gen. tlenefîe of their govèrnours;or as Birds which marke the fear -crow, not to move or hurt, waxe bold and fearkffe: fo theft finners imagine of God, that he will ever (pare, becaufe bee prefently ftriketh not, they wantonly contemn him and his kindneffe.The parts of the Text bee two : the one concerneth the generali goodneffe of God toward e- vill men,tet downe in three words. The fecond is,a reprehenfion of the abufe of his good nes,which that it might pierce deeper and move more, is fet downe by an interrogation, and an Apoftrophe Doeft thou? T i M. What is the drift of this Teat? Si L. To check fuch as being evil,yet thought themfelves righteous and in Gods favor, becaufe they were not pu- ni[hed ofGod,but profpered:unto there men the Apoftle faith, that their pro - fperity and fr'eedome from puniihment was a token of Gods bounty, patience, and long fufferance, but not of their vertue and goodnes. Tires Scope.
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