Page:On the providence of God in the government of the world.pdf/12

 Job xxi. 14, 15

That which would have been hypocrisy, if religion would have done their business, will be profaneness if will not. That which would have been the secret wickedness of the most close and retired thoughts scarce reflected on by him that thinks it, will now be the open wickedness of word and deed. The man will be known to the world that would have been unknown to himself. He will be thus much nearer to repentance, that he cannot be deceived in himself, and think he needs it not.

On the other side, if a man will be religious and just, tho' he be ever so great a loser by it, if he will hold fast his integrity in riches and poverty, in honour and disgrace, in good and evil report, when he is advanced and when he is persecuted for righteousness' sake; this will be a demonstration that he fears and loves God above all, that the laws of God are the rules of his life, that he makes it his business to be saved, that his religion and worship is not for worldly respects, and that his good actions are not prevented and chang'd into by corrupt ends and motives.

The sum of all these particulars is, that many of the good and evil things of this life, happen to men by the justice or injustice of their neighbours, who have free-will; and though they are forbidden, under severe penalties, yet they are not irresistibly restrained from doing injury: that men are prosperous or afflicted by the virtues or vices of their parents; that the good and bad are so mixt that they cannot, in many cases, but fare alike; and that the distinction betwixt the good and the bad is thereby made much more evident and undeniable; and therefore there must be 'one event to the righteous and to the wicked.'

But for a further answer, all is not true that is implied in this objection. For,

II. It will appear, that they who make this objection against Providence are not competent judges of that which their objection supposes.

It is supposed in this objection that the righteous endure so much grief, and the wicked enjoy so much plea-