Now I come to their miscarriage. They brought forth a lie ; a lie in regard of their expectation, their hopes deceiving them, but a just defeating in regard of God. It was contrary to their desire, but agreeable to God's justice. Neither were they disappointed only so as to miss of what they intended, but they met with that misery they intended not ; yea, even with that very misery which they thought to bring upon David.
This defeating ariseth by five steps: 1, they were discqjpointed ; 2, they fell into danger; 3, they were contrivers of this danger themselves; 4, there was a penal proportion, thej/ell into the same danger which they plotted for another; 5, they were a means of doing good to him whom they devised evil against ; and raised him, whom they thought to pull down. David sped the better for Shimei's malice, and Ahithophel's policy. See all these five likewise in the example of Haman and Mordecai. 1, Haman missed of his plot ; 2, he fell into danger ; 3, he fell into the same danger which he contrived himself; 4, he fell into the same danger which he contrived for Mordecai ; and 5, was the means of Mordecai' s advance- ment. It had been enough to have woven a spider's web, which is done with a great deal of art, and yet comes to notlung ; but to hatch a cocka- trice's egg, that brings forth a viper which stings to death, this is a double vexation. Yet thus God delighteth to catch the * wise in the imagination of their own hearts,' Luke i. 51, and to pay them in their own coin. The wicked carry a lie in their right hand ; for they trast in man, which is but a lie ; and, being liars themselves too, no marvel if their hopes prove de- ceitful, so that, while they sow the wind, they reap the whirlwind, Hosea viii. 7.
Reason. (1.) The reason of God's dealing in this kind is, first, in regard of himself. God will not lose the glory of any of his attributes ; he wiU be known to be God only wise, and this he will let appear, then especially, when wicked men think to overreach him.
(2.) Secondly, in regard of his tender care over his children, they are as the apple of his eye ; and as they are very near, so they are veiy dear to him. They cost him dear ; they are his jewels, and he gave a Jewel of in- finite price for them. Ho is interested in their quarrels, and they in his. * Qu. ' Massacre of St Bartholomew, 1572?'— G.
THE saint's safety IN EVIL TIMES. 803
If they be in any misery, God's bowels yearn for tliem. He is always awake, and never slumbereth, as we see in the parable, the master of the house waked while the sei-vants slept. Mat. xxv. 1, et seq. God's eye is upon them for good. He hath them written in the ' palms of his hands, Isa. xhx. 16. Christ carries them always ia his breast. Christ, who is the husband of his church, is Lord of heaven and earth, and hath all power committed to him, Mat. xxviii. 18, John xvii. 2, and will rule in the midst of his ene- mies. He is the only Monarch of the world, and makes both all things and persons serviceable to his own end and his church's good. He is higher than the highest. Satan, the god of the world, 2 Cor. iv. 4, is but his and his church's slave. All things are the church's, to further its best good.
(3.) Another reason is, the insolence of the enemies, whose fierceness turns at length to God's praise, Ps. ix. 16 ; for as he is a just Lord, so he will be known to be so by executing of judgment. It shall appear that there is ' a God that judgeth the earth,' Ps. Iviii. 11.
(4.) Again, God's children will give him no rest. When he seems to sleep, they will awake him with their prayers. ' They will not let him go with- out a blessing from him,' Gen. xxxii. 26. They wUl prevail by importunity, as the widow in the gospel, Luke xviii. 5. Having to deal with a just God, in a just cause, against common enemies, his as well as theirs, they bind him with his own promises ; and he is content to be bound, because he hath bound himself first. He will not lose that part of his title whereby he is known to be a ' God hearing prayers,' Ps. Ixv. 2.
Obj. But it will be objected that wicked men do not only set themselves against the people of God, but prevail over them, even to the scorn of the beholders. Tully could say ' The gocls shew how much they esteem of the Jewish nation, by suffering them so often to be conquered.'* Hath not anti- christ a long time prevailed, and was it not foretold that the beast should prevail? Rev. xiii. Where is, then, the bringing forth of a lie ?
Ans. I answer, (1.) the enemies have power, but no more than is given them of God, as Christ answered Pilate, John xix. 11. They prevail indeed, but it is for a time, a limited time, and that a short one too, ten days, &c.. Rev. ii. 10 : and what is this to that vast time of their torment ? The time wUl come, when there shall be no more time for them to persecute in.