The ill which seizeth upon the soul after death ; or else, the evil which seizeth upon the whole man, both soul and body, both in this and after this life.
Thus God is said to bring evil, not the evil of sin, but the evil of punish- ment.
Doct. 12. Hence we leam, that the evils uhich ive suffer, they are from the evil of sin. It is sin that makes God to bring evil upon the creature. If we look upward to God, there is no evil in the world, for in that consi- deration all things are good so far as he hath a hand in them. Therefore, whatsoever the creature sufl'ers, it comes from the meritorious evil, the evil of sin. It comes from God, but through the evil of sin provoking him.
THE saint's refreshing. 87
Quest. If any man ask, How can God, whicla is good, bring that which is evil ?
Sol. I answer, We must know that the evil of punishment is the good of justice. All the evil that he doth is good, as it comes from him in his justice punishing, because it doth good to them that are punished, either to cause them return, or if thev will not, to shew the glory of his justice in condemning them. It is the good of justice, and it is not always in God only permitting or sufleriug such a thing for to be done ; but it is in him as an act, having a hand in it. Therefore God saith, ' Ashur is the rod of my wrath ; '* so that in all punishments God hath a hand, whether it be upon the body or soul.
Use. This serves for dii'ection unto us. To begin where we should begin ; in all our afflictions to go to heaven and make our peace with God, and not go to secondary causes. For all evil of punishment comes from him. Let us, if we fear evil, make our peace with God by repentance and new obedience ; and then he will overrule all secondary causes so as to help us. Go not in this case to the jailor, or to the executioner, but go to the judge. Let us make our peace in heaven first, and then there will be soon a com- mand for our ease. Yea, Christ can command the wind and sea to be still, the devil himself to be quiet, if our peace be made with him.
Therefore let us learn this lesson, and not fret against the instrument whereby God useth to correct us. David had learned thus much when Shimei railed upon him : * It is God that hath bid him, therefore let him alone,' 2 Sam. xvi. 11. So holy Job saith, ' It is God that gives, and God that takes away,' Job i. 21. He doth not only say, God gives, but God takes away. Oh but it was the Chaldeans that took it away. Ay, but it is no matter for that, God gave them leave. Therefore let us carry ourselves patiently in all troubles, submitting ourselves under the mighty hand of God, from whom we have all evil of punishment.
Ohj. Again, Here we have another mystery of divine providence. For it may be objected. What ! will God bring evil upon his own church and people ? upon the temple and place where his name is called upon, and that by idolaters. Where is divine justice now ?
Sol. I answer. Hold thy peace, take not the balance out of God's hand. He knows what is better for usf than we ourselves. We must not call God to our bar, for we shall all appear before his. God useth servants and slaves to correct his sons ; worse men than his people to correct his people. It is his course so to do, when they of his own sin against him. For evil men many times make evil men good, when they are used as instruments to correct them ; as here God useth wicked men to make his children good. So God makes a rod of Ashur, to make his evil children better. He useth slaves to correct his sons, because it is too base a service for the angels or good men to do. Therefore he useth the devil and his instruments to do it. Wherefore let us not call into question God's' providence ; for when he will punish his people, he can hiss for a worse people ; for Egypt, or Ashur, or the like. So if he will punish England, he can hiss again for the Danes, or Normans, to punish his own people. Let us not boast we are God's people and they idolaters. No ; God can hiss for a baser people to punish his own servants. It is the will of God so to dispose, and the wiU of God is swjrtwa ji/.sfjfirt, the height of justice. God will have it so. Let us make our peace with him, and not demand why he doth thus and thus.
* That is, ' Assyria.' Cf. Isa. x. 5.— G. t Qu. ' what is good for us, better ' V — Ed.
88 THE smnt's refreshing.
' And so they brought the king word again.' I will but touch this in a word, and so make an end.