第46章

Torulebywordsrequiresthatsuchwordsbemanifestlymadeknown；forelsetheyarenolaws：fortothenatureoflawsbelongethasufficientandclearpromulgation，suchasmaytakeawaytheexcuseofignorance；whichinthelawsofmenisbutofoneonlykind，andthatis，proclamationorpromulgationbythevoiceofman。

ButGoddeclarethhislawsthreeways；bythedictatesofnaturalreason，byrevelation，andbythevoiceofsomemantowhom，bytheoperationofmiracles，heprocurethcreditwiththerest。FromhencetherearisethatriplewordofGod，rational，sensible，andprophetic；

towhichcorrespondethatriplehearing：rightreason，sensesupernatural，andfaith。Asforsensesupernatural，whichconsistethinrevelationorinspiration，therehavenotbeenanyuniversallawssogiven，becauseGodspeakethnotinthatmannerbuttoparticularpersons，andtodiversemendiversethings。

FromthedifferencebetweentheothertwokindsofGod’sword，rationalandprophetic，theremaybeattributedtoGodatwofoldkingdom，naturalandprophetic：natural，whereinHegovernethasmanyofmankindasacknowledgeHisprovidence，bythenaturaldictatesofrightreason；andprophetic，whereinhavingchosenoutonepeculiarnation，theJews，forHissubjects，Hegovernedthem，andnonebutthem，notonlybynaturalreason，butbypositivelaws，whichHegavethembythemouthsofHisholyprophets。OfthenaturalkingdomofGodIintendtospeakinthischapter。

TherightofnaturewherebyGodreignethovermen，andpunisheththosethatbreakhislaws，istobederived，notfromHiscreatingthem，asifHerequiredobedienceasofgratitudeforHisbenefits，butfromHisirresistiblepower。Ihaveformerlyshownhowthesovereignrightarisethfrompact：toshowhowthesamerightmayarisefromnaturerequiresnomorebuttoshowinwhatcaseitisnevertakenaway。Seeingallmenbynaturehadrighttoallthings，theyhadrighteveryonetoreignoveralltherest。Butbecausethisrightcouldnotbeobtainedbyforce，itconcernedthesafetyofeveryone，layingbythatright，tosetupmen，withsovereignauthority，bycommonconsent，toruleanddefendthem：whereasiftherehadbeenanymanofpowerirresistible，therehadbeennoreasonwhyheshouldnotbythatpowerhaveruledanddefendedbothhimselfandthem，accordingtohisowndiscretion。Tothosethereforewhosepowerisirresistible，thedominionofallmenadherethnaturallybytheirexcellenceofpower；andconsequentlyitisfromthatpowerthatthekingdomovermen，andtherightofafflictingmenathispleasure，belongethnaturallytoGodAlmighty；notasCreatorandgracious，butasomnipotent。Andthoughpunishmentbedueforsinonly，becausebythatwordisunderstoodafflictionforsin；yettherightofafflictingisnotalwaysderivedfrommen’ssin，butfromGod’spower。

Thisquestion：whyevilmenoftenprosper；andgoodmensufferadversity，hasbeenmuchdisputedbytheancient，andisthesamewiththisofours：bywhatrightGoddispenseththeprosperitiesandadversitiesofthislife；andisofthatdifficulty，asithathshakenthefaith，notonlyofthevulgar，butofphilosophersand，whichismore，ofthesaints，concerningtheDivineProvidence。“Howgood，“

saithDavid，“istheGodofIsraeltothosethatareuprightinheart；

andyetmyfeetwerealmostgone，mytreadingshadwell-nighslipped；forIwasgrievedatthewicked，whenIsawtheungodlyinsuchprosperity。“*AndJob，howearnestlydoesheexpostulatewithGodforthemanyafflictionshesuffered，notwithstandinghisrighteousness？ThisquestioninthecaseofJobisdecidedbyGodHimself，notbyargumentsderivedfromJob’ssin，butHisownpower。

ForwhereasthefriendsofJobdrewtheirargumentsfromhisafflictiontohissin，andhedefendedhimselfbytheconscienceofhisinnocence，GodHimselftakethupthematter，andhavingjustifiedtheafflictionbyargumentsdrawnfromHispower，suchasthis，“WherewastthouwhenIlaidthefoundationsoftheearth，“*(2)andthelike，bothapprovedJob’sinnocenceandreprovedtheerroneousdoctrineofhisfrie