THE occasion of this our present meeting ( Right honorable , Right worshipfull , and wel be loued ●roo● Lord and Sauiour 〈…〉 and the consider 〈…〉 the ●aies and cili●●● 〈…〉 in we liue , haue for 〈…〉 me , to make cheefe of 〈◊〉 portion of scripture , at this time . For nat●●●● standing that the Lord hath now taken from vs to 〈…〉 selfe , this Right Noble , and worthy Lord , whose ●●●●nerall we are here now about , and the buriall of whose bodie wee are anone to fee , and that ●●●wise hee hath , within these few yeares , taken 〈◊〉 by death from this land , very many of our most 〈…〉 Earles , Lords and Knights , as it is wel● 〈…〉 beside many others of all other sorts and estates of the best disposition , & that the greatest part 〈…〉 that are left behinde , are growne is ●n 〈…〉 height in all sin and impiety : yet vniuersally 〈◊〉 where amongst vs , there is such a grosse and senseles security to be seene , that doubtles , as iustly maie we now , as Isaiah in his time , in the bitternes of our soules , cry out and say , the righteous perisheth , and no man considereth it in heart , and mercifull men are taken away , and no man vnderstandeth that the righteous is taken away from the euell to come . Onely this with him , in this case , we haue to comfort our selues withall , that howsoeuer the wicked and vngodly iudge of the deathes of such ; that in very deede , the Lord thereby in his great loue and favour hath taken them away , before the euel come , which he hath prepared for them , that hereby will ●ot in time , be drawne to repentance . And that , howsoeuer whiles such liued in this vnkinde and wicked world , they could neuer enioy either sound peace in ●o●●e , or quiet rest in their bodies , for vering and greuing themselues , at the vngodlines of others rounde about them ; yet euery one that walketh before God in righteousnes , and mercy , and so is taken away euen thus walking , is sure immediatly vppon his death , to enter possession in soule of an euerlasting & most comfortable peace , and in bodye to rest most soundly and quietly in the bed that the Lorde hath made therefore , vntill at the last day , it rise againe , and for euer to be ioyned with the soule in most perfect and consummate ioy in the kingdome of heauen . Wherfore seeing these words of the prophet , and the matter therein contayned , thus fit our present busines , I beseech you giue me leaue to doe the ●e● that I can to lead you so into the due meditation therof , that we all may make that holy and good vse therof that we should , both to reforme that in time which is amisse in any of vs , and to comfort and strengthen vs in that which is well begunne .

His wordes , in my iudgement , containe & complaint or expostulation ; and a comfort or consolation . The complaint is against the vngodly aliue , in the behalfe of the godly departed : & the com●●rt ●s , for the godly , against the ha●d opinions of the vngodly of them . The matter in general that he comp●in●●● of , is , the wonderfull carelesnesse and security , 〈…〉 saw in the people of his time ; which in particular he notes they shewed first , in not taking to heard as they should , the deathes of most worthy men , and then in not once vnderstanding that the Lordes end there●● was , not only to shew them great favour in taking them away from the euell to come , but also thereby to threaten some great euill , to be comming on apace vpon the impenitent & secure , that they lesse behinde them . And let his words be well markt , and ●●e shal finde in the deliuering of this comfort , he doth first describe them , whom he would comfort , & then sets downe the comforts that belong to such and these he describeth in generall , in the latter ver●e , to be euery one that walketh before God ; and in particuler , in the other to be righteous and mercifull 〈◊〉 . Likewise the comfortes that herein hee layes downe for such , ere either such as concerne them dying , or dead , and of each kind he giues two : the first are these , that the Lords end in taking them away by death , whatsoeuer the vngodly think to the contrary , is in his favour to take them away before the euill come , that he hasteneth to bring vppon others : and that their death is no perishing vnto them , though the prophane and wicked so think , but in truth a gathering of them vp from amongst the vngodly , with whome whiles they liued , to their griefe & trouble they were mingled ; to ioyne them to the blessed & holy company of the Saints in heauen & the other two , that immediatly vpon death they enter into fruition of , are these , that thereupon streight in soule they enter into peace , and in their bodies , that they rest in their beds , that is in their graues , or places whatsoeuer , the Lorde in his prouidence hath allotted them . This order therefore & methode , let vs nowe follow in further handling & examining these wordes of the Prophet .

But that the better we may attaine and finde out his full scope and drift herein , we are first to vnderstand that these words of his , haue their necessary coherence , and connexion , with the foure last verses of the former Chapter : which the better to leade the reader to see and perceaue , Tremelius in his translation of the Bible , hath begunne this 57. Chapter , where those foure verses beginne . Marke therefore , I beseech you , that in the first of those foure verses that I speake of , the Prophet calles for the beastes of the fielde and forrest to come to eate , and deuour , by which woordes , by a figuratiue kinde of speech , he denounceth against that people some fearefull destruction , that should come vppon them and great slaughter that should he made of them . Therein doubtlesse hauing an eie to that , which should come to passe , when Nabuchadnezer the king of Babell , shoulde inuade their country , and destroy Hierusalem , temple & all ; slaying whom he list , and leading the rest into captiuity . For Hieremie , another prophet , whome the Lorde raysed vppe vnto that people after Isaiahs time , respecting that iudgement , telles them in his ninth Chapter verse 22. that when that should be , their Carkasses should he as doung vpon the earth and be scattered as handfuls after the mower● where there is none to gather them vp , and 〈◊〉 againe in his 34 Chapter , hauing plainly & expres●●ly denounced this iudgement against them , in like phrase to this , verse 20. he shewes them , that when it shoulde be executed vpon them , their dead bodies should be meat for the foules of heauen , & the beasts of the field . But that by thus calling the beasts together , as it were to a solemn banquet , it is the vse and fashion of the spirit of God in the scriptures , to vnderstand some horrible and dreadfull destruction , wee maie most clearely see , Ezech 39. vers. 18.19 . & 20. & Reuel. 19. vers. 17. Where it is euident that to denounce such a matter , both the foules of the aire and beastes of the field are solemnly cald for , as it were , to feede at the Lordes table to their full , of the flesh and blood of kings , princes , nobles , captaines , & of others of al sortes . Wherfore it is most certaine , that our Prophet here , by the like phrase , gaue this people of the kingdome of Iudah to vnderstand , that such a iudgement as I haue saide , was prepared for them , and hastening fast towards them .

Now hauing done this thus , in the first of the 4. verses immediatly going before my text ; in the other three , he layes downe , that one speciall prognostication , and hastening cause thereof was this , that they that in respect of their places and maintenance therefore , ought to haue beene as their watchmen to tell them of their sinnes , and to forewarne them of the iudgementes of God therefore to come vppon them , were such , as either for lacke of skill or will , in that respect were no better then dumbe dogs , delighting in sleeping , and that yet they were so covetous and ambitious , that they coulde neuer be satisfied withall , giuing themselues most securely to all delicacy and volu●tuousnes of liuing . Whereby by the way , we may see , that when in any kingdome it may iustly and truely be thus saide of such ; that then euen thereby , that people haue a most certaine cause giuen them to feare , some grievous iudgement not to be far off . For how can it be , but when it is thus with these kinde of men , it must bee as bad , if not worse , with them whom these , both for life and doctrine shoulde go before and guide ? For if 〈…〉 darkenes , what else can we looked for in the whole body ? And if the sunne haue giuen ouer shining , and be as it were quite set vppon the toppe of the mountaines , what shew can it make in the valleyes ? God of his mercy therfore grant that we may , be every day more and more vnlike the kingdome of Iudah in this point . Well , the Prophet hauing thus drawen one argument from the corrupt estate of the watchmen in his time , that such a heavy iudgement , ( as I haue shewed he denounced ) was comming apace on , against the people of the kingdome of Iudah : hauing a desire fully to perswade them that it was so , the better to awaken them and to draw them to repentance , if it were possible , to preuent the same : in these wordes of my text , he giues them another most sure and certaine signe and token thereof . And it is this , that in so bad times , as those were , wherin sinne had so ouerflowed al estates , the Lordes taking away by death , so many of their best and godliest men ( whereof the number was before but small ) was a plaine demonstration , that such an euel was shortly to come vpon those whom they left behind them . And the rather , because notwithstanding this was a heauy iudgment of it selfe , thus to haue their most worthy men taken away , and clerely shewed that yet there was a heauier comming : ( the people continued and went on 〈◊〉 in ther olde lewd course , in all security , neither feeling the present blow , that hereby the Lorde g●●e them , nor yet thereby taking any occasion to thinke , that a further was threatned . Other argumentes he could haue vsed to this purpose , but with these two , as though these two , were insteede of all the rest , and were of themselues most sufficent , to perswade this matter , he contents himselfe . Wherefore looking now into the daies and times wherein we liue , if it be so , that we cannot deny , but that the manners of men , and the falling out of things amongst vs , geue ground for these two arguments to be vrged and vsed against vs , we may and ought to learne hereby , vnlesse we be disposed to showe our selues to be a people , that nothing can feare or drawe from security , to true repentance ; that it standes vs vppon speedily , euen hereby to take warning to looke better to our selues and to our waies , then hitherto wee haue done . As for the former of these argumentes , whether there haue not bin and yet are , two many such in the place of watchmen amongst vs , as the Prophet hath described , to grounde that vppon : I referre to your owne iudgement , who perhaps knowe it better then my selfe : but touching the other , laide downe here in my text , I dare boldly affirme , that Isaiah had neuer iuster cause to vrge that in his time , then we haue euen nowe .

Wherefore now vnderstanding as we doe , vppon what occasion and to what ende these wordes were vttered by him , let vs according to the order and methode before therein obserued , go on in the further weighing & considering thereof . The righteous man perisheth ( saith he ) speaking in the singuler number for the plurall , as it is euident in the next Clause , where speaking still of the same , he termes them in the plurall number mercifull men . Whereby it is cleare , that this was spoken by hint in respect of such a time , of his prophesying , wherein many such as here he speaks of , by one kinde of death or other were taken hence . But whereas , by the first verse of this booke of his prophesies , it appeares , that he prophesyed in the daies of Vzziah , Iothan , Ahaz , and Ezechiah , kinges of Iudah , and some of the ancient Rabbins , and other Christian ancient fathers , haue thought , that he himselfe was sawn to death in the first yeare of Manasses ( the consideration whereof , hath made many , to vnderstand that Hebr. 11. verse 37. where the Apostle speaking of the deaths of sundry of the godly , in the time of the olde testament , saith , some were hewn a sunder , or as some rather translate it , sawn a sunder , as spoken properly of the death of Isaiah vnder this idolatrous tyrant ) amongst the interpreters of this place , they al are not of one minde , touching the time , in respect wherof , these wordes were set downe . For some refer them , to some time of the 16. yeares , that Ahaz reigned , some to the first yeare of the raigne of Manasses , & others thinke , they were spoken in regard of some time of the reigne of Ezechiah . They that refer them to Ahaz , or Manasses times think , that the Prophet here speaketh , not onely of such righteous and mercifull men , as in those times died ordinary deaths by sicknesses vpon their beds , but especially of such , as were put to death by those idolatrous and wicked Kings . And indeede , likely inough it is , that in their times , many such for misliking their proceedings , and not conforming themselues thereunto , came to their ends . For Ahaz , was so grosse an idolater , that he burnt incense in the valley of Benhinnom , and burnt his sonnes with fire ( or made them passe through the fire ) after the abomination of the heathen , 2. Cron. 25. vers. 3. and he had Vriah the priest one ready to follow his idolatrous & wicked commandements in any thing 2. Kings 16. vers. 11. & 16. and of the other , the holy story , 2. Kings 21. vers . 1. &c. & 2. Cron. 33. vers . 1. &c reports as much ill , as may be : and Iosephus , for his part , in the 10. booke of the antiquities of the Iews , chapter the 4. writes most plainly , that he kild all that he could come by both of the prophets and people that were godly . And they that refer them to Ezechias time , either refer them to the time , when he was sicke vnto death and yet recouered , as we reade Isaiah 35. or to the time when he died indeede 2. Kinges the 20. vers . 21. For the sicknes that he was so sicke of , and yet recouered , is thought of sundry learned men , to haue bin the very plague , wherof about that time , many such as Isaiah here speaketh of , by all likelihood died , though he escaped ; & when he died such a one , doubtles , as he here talkes of , was taken away , and about that time , it may be , many others of the best sort , died also . But forasmuch , as howsoeuer the righteous are taken away , whether it be by the violent persecution of tyrants , by the plague , or by any disease , or means els ; yet the prophet might speake of them , whatsoeuer he hath done here : it is very harde for any man , precisely to determine , in respect of what time of his life , he vttered these wordes . Wherefore in that point , to leaue euery man free to his owne iudgement , by his owne wordes so much is apparant , that they were set downe by him , in respect of such a time , when of that small number that were such , as here he describes , in his opinion , so many dropt away , by one kinde of death , or other , that ( the security and carelesnes of the rest that notwithstanding considered ) he had iust cause to complaine , that no man would lay the deaths of such to heart , or once vnderstand , that the Lord thereby prognosticated a further euell to come . And vttering this his complaint , it is further worthy to be noted , that he speaking in the sense of the wicked , careles , and secure people in his time , he saith , the righteous perisheth : thereby giuing vs to vnderstand , that indeede , that was the fashion of such , so to iudge of those , whom ether they by their tyranny had dispatcht , or whom god , otherwise by some painefull maner of death ( whereunto the righteous , is as well subiect as others ) had taken hence . And indeede wisedome the 3. vers . 2. ●-3 . it is said , that in the sight of the vnwise , the righteous ( whose soules are in the hand of God and not torment shal touch them ver. 1. ) appeare to die , & their end is thought grieuous , and their departing from vs to be destruction , and againe , Chapt. 5. vers. 4. they are brought in confessing asmuch themselues , ( saying we fooles , thought their life madnes , and their end to haue beene without honor . And this doubtles , was some occasion of griefe to the holy Prophet , and so , some cause of this his complaint , that he sawe the wicked so ready , thus lewdly to iudge & speake of the deaths of such . And therefore to reforme them in this point , and to make it appeare , what he would haue al men to thinke of the deathes of such , what maner of death soeuer it were , he , by and by , addeth that such are but taken away , or conueyed , or gathered hence , ( for so the word is also translated of some ) from the euill to come . Further in that he saith , no man considereth it in hart , that the righteous perisheth : & none vnderstandeth , that the righteous & merciful men are taken away from the euil to come , it is euident that the Prophet was of this iudgment , that it was a thing to be lamented , sorrowed for , & hartily to be complained of , if in such bad times as these were , wherof he speaketh , men should continue in security , notwithstanding the Lord seeketh by taking the most worthy away from them , to driue them from the same ; yea that it was a strong argument , or signe , of some great euill , likely shortly to fall vpon them that would not thereby be awaken . Seing therfore that euen this yeare , we cannot but remember , that the Lord hath taken hence , first the Lord Wentworth , them the Earle of Darby , and nowe as we see this noble and worthy Lord Gray , al in their seueral places and countries , right excellent men , and besides , we cannot be ignorant , that within these 8. or 9. yeares likewise , the Lord hath taken from vs , a great number of the most worthie & noble Earles . Lords , and Knights , that England hath had many a day ; and that also by wars , the plagne , and other diseases , we haue lost within a very small time , more then we can number of very valiant , wise , and vertuous men ; who seeth not , that in this respect we may say , aswell as euer Isaiah did , the righteous & mercifull men are taken away ? And as for the security of the rest , for all this , surely I feare me , we are no whit behinde the people in his time , & the rest●● , in as great danger as they were , God of his mercy giue vs grace to see our fault therein , & to amend in time .

Thus we hauing seene in generall , what he ●●●plained of , and what driue him so to doe ; th● 〈◊〉 we are to make therof , is to be as careful a● 〈◊〉 that we geue none such as he was , any sin 〈◊〉 to morne and complain of vs , as he did of th●● people of his time . And the better that we may , as we ought indeede , make this vse of his complaint , let vs 〈◊〉 see in particular , how he proues them to 〈◊〉 as of whome in generall , he had occasion thus 〈◊〉 complaine . The first reason is , that none considered in heart , or as it is in the Hebrewe , no man 〈◊〉 hart that the righteous so perished and were taken away as we haue heard . The vse of which phrase in the scripture is , to expresse a carefull and harty consideration of a thing , and in this place doubtles therby the prophet meaneth , that no man so sorrowed in his heart for the dropping away so fast of the righteous , and mercifull men , as there was cause , in respect of the losse of such . Otherwise in another sence , there were enow then wee may bee sure , that laide the deathes of such but too fast to their hearts : to harten and harden on themselues in sin and impiety ; for that by this meanes , they that most bridled and curbed them , from bold and secure rushing and breaking out , beyond all bondes of piety and honesty , to wring and wrong others , or to defile themselues , were taken out of their way . And this the prophet himselfe , both in the verse immediatly going before my text , and in the next verse but one after it , plainly sheweth he did perceiue ; for in the former of these two verses , ( in that I meane next before my text ) he bringes in the wicked liuing in those very times , when , the righteous died thus fast , hartening themselues in this manner , saying , Come I will bring wine , and we will fill our selues with strong drinke , and to morrow shall bee as this day and much more abundant , and in the other , after that , in the very next verse after my text , hee hath giuen such their due tyles , calling them witches children and sonnes of the adulterer and whore , he faieth , vnto them , on whom haue ye iested , on whom haue you gaped and thrust out your toung ? thereby as it should seeme , describing the triumphing and insulting of the wicked , that the righteous and most worthy men , that troubled & crossed them in their waies were now as they thought , as water spilt vppon the ground . And surely , it is much to be feared , that euen now amongst vs , there are in corners , and when they are where they may be bold , that in this prophane & wicked manner , lay to their hartes , to solace & there them withall , the deathes of the most worthie men amongst vs . But whosoeuer they bee , that thus take occasion , to make themselues merry from hence , from whence they shoulde indeede take occasion to mourne and lament , let them vnderstand , that the Lord by this our prophet Isaiah , hauing called that people to fasting and mourning that were in his time , and they falling to feasting and laughing , he tels them that that their sin , was declared in the eares of the Lord of hosts , and that therevpon , this was his flat decree and sentence of them , that that their iniquitie shoulde not bee purged vntill they died . Cap. 22. vers. 14. Wherefore the better to make vs to take to hart , the dying of the worthy men amongst vs , not in this wrong fence , but in the sence and manner that here it appeares the Prophet wished : let vs now consider what reason hee had to complaine , and to take this for one speciall particuler signe of intollerable security , that men woulde not mourne and lament , and so laie to their heartes , the deathes of such doubtles , he knew , that such kinde of men , were the bands & sinnews , yea the very pillors , and buttresses , of the good estate , both of the Church , & common weale ; and that therfore the taking away of such ( howsoeuer secure & prophane men made no reckoning thereof ) was indeed a heauy iudgment of God vpon al that they left behind them . For the wicked , are therby the more hardned , and hartened to al iniquitie , so to hasten Gods further iudgements vpon the land wherin such liue , & the Godly are therby greatly weakned , in this wicked world before men , for lacke of assistaunce by such against the wrongs & oppressions of the vngodly . And it is euident that he knew , this most perfectly , for in his third Chapter he hauing threatned the people of his time , that for their sins the Lord woulde take from them the stay and strength , though in the particularising wherein the stay and strength of a citty and country lyeth , hee name bread and drinke in the first place , because ( as it should seeme ) without them men cannot continue at all , yet by & by he reckoneth , the strong man , the man of warre , the iudge , the Prophet , the prudent , the aged , the Honorable , the counceller &c. As them , without whom neither Citty nor countrey , can long enioy anie good beeing . For such being taken a waie , be shewes , the consequent thereof is likely to be this , that some as vnfit as children and babes to rule , shal succeede them , whereuppon would follow great oppression one of another , and confusion . And it seemeth , by the conference of these 2. places together , as he threatned that people for their sins this iudgement , about the beginning of his prophesying , so or he died , he sawe the same in great measure , in extention vpon them . Howe could he therefore , but in this respect mourne , in that all this not withstanding , he could obserue none , that mourned vnder the burden of this iudgement , as they should . For as it argues , a wonderfull harde heart , either in childe or seruant , that will not once melt or mou●n● , when the heauie blowes of father or maister are sounding vpon their shoulders , so cannot this be taken but as an argument , both then & no we , of in●ollerable senselesnes , if in the daily execution of this heauie iudgement of God vpon vs , we should shew our selues , by our not taking or to heart at all , to be such as neither see it , nor feele it to be a iudgement , or any punishment vpon vs . Yea the very wicked themselues ( howsoeuer in their own foolish & vaine conceits , they haue cause to be merry , for the death of such ) yee indeede and truth , if they looke well into gods dealing with his own deare seruants , in taking them away , through many tribulations , & often in the end also , by painful and tormenting kinde of deathes , haue iust cause , thereby ministred vnto them , to say and thinke with Peter Epist. 1. cap. 4. vers. 17. ● 18. if iudgement begin at the house of God , and the righteous themselues so hardly be saued , what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospell of God , & where shall the vngodly and sinner appeare ? For if these things be don to a green tree , saith Christ , Luk. 23.31 . what shall be done to the drie ? But and if this will not serue , to make such to bethink them of their owne sinnes , and of the iudgements of God due vnto them for the same , I would wish them further to vnderstand , that when the enemies of gods people , were so far off from taking out this lesson , by beholding the miseries and afflictions of gods own people , that rather they tooke occasion , because of their owne florishing estate in health and wealth for that present , to insult and to triumph ouer them ; that the Prophet Ieremie was commanded by the Lord , to say vnto al such , drink al & be drunken , spew and fal , & rise no more , because of the sword that I will send amongst you , but and if they refuse to take the cup at thy hand to drinke , saith the Lord vnto him , then tell them thus saith the Lord of hosts , ye shal certainly drink , for loe I begin to plague the citty where my name is cald vpon , and shall you go free ? you shall not go quite . Ierem. 25. vers. 27. &c. Ahab and Iezabell , a while made themselues merry , at the death of Naboth 1. Kings 21 , but marke the sequele of that story , and you shal finde , that neither of them had any cause to be merry , nor any of their posterity , ere the Lord had done with them for it . Wherefore though the vngoldy for a time , liue , wax old , and grow in wealth , and their seed be established in their sight with them , and their generation before their eies , & their houses be peaceable & without feare and the rod of God be not vpon them , as Iob obserued it was with some of them , when it was far otherwise with him , Cap. 21. vers. 7. &c. or though they find it to be with them as Dauid noted , when it was nothing so well with himselfe , Psal. 73. vers. 4. &c. that there be no bands in their death , but they are lusly and strong , that they be not in trouble as other men , nor be plagued with others , & that therfore pride is as a chein vnto them , & cruelty couereth them a● a garment , and their eies stand out for fatnes , and they haue more then their heart can wish &c. Yet neither let this dismay the godly , nor be taken to bee any sound ground of confort for the other . Indeede it appeares , that euen the very godly haue sometimes beene offended & troubled hereat , insomuch that Iob himselfe Cap. 21. vers. 6. and Dauid Psal. 73. vers . 2. and 3. Yea euen Ieremie Cap. 12. vers . 2. and 3. and Habacuk an other Prophet of the Lord , Cap. 1. vers 13. and 14. doe most plainly confesse asmuch , by themselues . Notwithstanding certaine it is , that Dauids rule is very sound & good in this case , and of all the godly to be followed , which is , that they should not fret themselues because of the wicked , nor for him that prospereth in his way , and bringeth his enterprises to passe , Psal. 37. vers. 1. & 7. For let both the godly , the better to preserue them from being any whit discouraged herewith , & the other , the easelier to stay them , from triumphing hereby vnderstand , that though indeede it be found true by experience , through the corrupt and blind nature of men , because sentence against and euell woorke is not excuted speedily , that therefore the hartes of the children of men in them , are set vpon euel , Eccle. 8. vers 11. insomuch , that the vngodly , finding that God lets them some times alone : therefore , as God complaines Psa. 50. vers. 21. are even ready to think , that he is like them , that yet all such shall most certainely finde in the end , that if they thus despise the long suffering of God , which shoulde prouoke them to repentance , that they doe but heape vp vengeance against the day of vengeance . Ro. 2.4 . & 5. For it followeth in the same place of Ecclesiastes last cited , immediatly : though a sinner do evil an hundred times and God prolongeth his daies , that yet he knew , that it should be well with them that feare the Lord , and do reuerence before him but it shall not be well to the wicked , neither shal he prolong his daies : he shall be like a shadow , because he feareth not before God , vers. 12. & 13. And likewise in the 50 Psalme , to answere that wicked and blasphemous thought of the vngodlie , it presently followeth , as spoken by God himselfe , but I will reproue thee , and set thy sinnes in order before thee : whereuppon most not ably and vehemently , the Lord also further breaketh out into this exhortation , Oh consider this yee that forget God , least I teare you in pieces , and there be none that can deliuer you . Yea euen Iob himselfe after that a while he had troubled himselfe , with musing vppon the prosperity of the wicked , he could say , that in the ende , the Lorde woulde deuide their liues in his wrath , and that they shoulde be as stubble before the winde , and as chaffe that the storme carieth away , and that God would lay vp the sorrow of the father for his children , & when he rewardeth him , he should see it . vers. 17.18 . & 19. &c. And Dauid also ; how much soeuer he was troubled before , at , and with , the prosperity of the wicked , yet when once hee went into the sanctuarie of God , then he confesseth he vnderstoode their ende , & that God had set them in slippery places , and did cast them downe into desolation , and that they were soddenly destroied , perished , & horrily consumed Psa. 73. ver. 13. &c. And the like might be noted of Ieremie and Habacuk , who notwithstanding their reasoning with god about his suffring the wicked to prosper , in the places before quoted , yet through that cloud & mist , plainly shew , in the verie same places that they saw & knew , hee was righteous , had pure eyes & could not see and behold wickednes , therby giuing such to vnderstand , that howsoeuer it wee with them for a time , that yet in the end , the Lord would pay them home . Notably therfore is it to this end , that is written in the 5 Chapter of the book of Wisedom , where the wicked are brought in , bewailing their folly , for iudging so badly , as they had , of the liues & deathes of the righteous , and bewayling the vanity and impiety of their own , when they had once found all their pompe and pleasure to bee , but as a shadow , a post , or as the flying of a bird , or arrowe in the aire , or sayling of a ship in the sea , which soddenly are past and gon , & leaue no tract behinde them , & when they had learned by experience that al the hope of such , ( which is most fearful ) is but as dust , fome , & smoke , which most easely is scattered & carried away with the winde & tempest . Cause therfore without al question haue the very wicked , in the seeing the Lord take away , & deal with the best men as he doth , to tremble & quake before him , in the remembrance of their own sins , & so to take to hart , their deaths : & so was this a sufficient cause , to mooue Isaiah , to complaine , and to take it as an argument , of most dangerous security , that he could finde none of them , that woulde thus doe . So therfore we are to account it , if all this not withstanding , we finde it in this respect no better amongst vs , a certaine signe of the like , & therfore to threatten vs , as it did them , some further iudgment .