David Restored .

OR An ANTIDOTE against the Prosperity of the Wicked AND The Afflictions of the Iust , SHEWING THE Different Ends of Both.

In a most Seasonable discourse upon the Seventy third Psalme ,

BY THE Right Reverend Father in God EDWARD PARRY Late L. BISHOP of KILLALOE .

Opus Posthumum .

Printed for JOSEPH GODWIN Bookseller in OXFORD . Anno Recreationis M.DC.LX .

THAT Religion is oft made a Covering for ill designes , is no new peece of Policy ; but that sins of the blackest hue , and Persons of notorious villanies , should ride for many years in an uninterrupted triumph ; and at length dye quietly in their beds , hath startled too many to somewhat more then wonder ; even to question a providence , which may peculiarly interest it selfe , in these unexpected revolutions .

For although the tendernesse of Gods mercies , or the severity of his judgements are most conspicuous to an impartial unpassionate eye , yet experience tells us , that the causes of events are oft so occult and obscure , beyond our reach ; as that our puzled thoughts are blindly led on , too oft to substitute chance to be the cause of that , which is unsearchably ruled by God ; or profanely , to cast black obloquies ( if any thing happen contrary to our desires ) even upon God himself .

Whereas if , but with patience and serenity men would expect the end , they would quickly change their opinion , and discerne Gods glory and his Churches good , to break through those dismall appearances ; and that those disorders which carry a face of horror to us , look with another kinde of aspect towards God .

Thus when the aire is covered with black tempestuous clouds , our senses torne with thunder & lightning ; all things may seem to be in an irreconcilable confusion below , though the same calmenesse interruptedly sits in Heaven ; so , whilst the World lies in a distemper and all things be together by the eares below on earth , our judgment may be darkned , and our passions be active , yet that confusion can never continue so long , or reach so high , but God can turne these greatest disorders to a perfect harmony .

They that confine God to be onely a General beginning of a confus'd motion , do strive to rob God of one of his most glorious attributes , omnisciency , as if once he should command a River , to containe it self within its prescribed channel ; but yet ; not be conscious and intent , upon every winding curle of its streame ; by which opinion as we strip God of his glory , so we deprive our selves of very much comfort , for if man were nakedly expos'd to the injuries of the creature , freely acting according to the rule of nature , without a more eminent hand to restreine their fury , he would quickly finde a want of that helpe which he voluntarily do's abridge himself of .

And although man is alwaies too prone in his discontents , to indulge his corruptions in a deniall of a peculiar providence ; yet he never more greedily runs into this peece of Atheisme : Then upon the prosperity of the wicked , and the afflictions of the just ; when he findes persecuted innocence wandring in banishment , and drooping under a loade of chaines , whilst impiety wantonly roules it selfe upon a throne : when they dare father their wickedness upon Heaven , and yet prosper , and do grow great by being prodigiously sinful .

But how poor and unfortunate an argument a little successe is , of a good cause , ( as all ages so ) the late stupendious alterations of providence , ( which hath unexpectedly taken off the wheels of wicked mens Charriots , leaving them in that dirt they sprung from , and restored a too-long-afflicted David to his owne , ) do sufficiently make good .

To indeavour after an eminency in Religion ought to be every mans ambition , but to pretend Heaven meerly for our ends on Earth , is but the outside sanctity of an hypocrite , which ( under so specious a cover ) do's far more harme then an open profanenesse .

Those prosperous streames which some mens actions have been wafted in , have not onely betray'd weaker minds into an opinion of their Justice , but even sweld the Authors themselves , into a conceite , of being favourites of Heaven ; and that their actions , are no longer crimes , but services , and carry a certificate from Heaven by their felicity .

Others there are , who amaz'd to see mischiefs ( such as honester infidels would blush to heare ) wear so uninterruptedly the mask of Religion , and pretend Gods cause ; doe renounce all , and ( actuated by corrupt unsteady principles ) think it a kind of refuge to turne Atheists , desparing to finde any truth of Religion there , where actions are so notoriously contrary to the profession ; and where little else is breath'd but Enthusiasmes , which under colour of Revelation banishes humanity , and the very ordinary expressions of generosity and Justice amongst Men.

By which grand Temptations , too many ( reduc't almost to their wits end ) do amazedly with David run about , account all Religion vaine , and question not onely the providence , but even the existence of God ; Atheistically denying knowledge in the in the most high , Since such prodigious impieties should not onely finde so long an impunity , but even Crowne themselves with those Lawrels which their guilt did set upon their heads .

To undeceive these , and to reduce them to a more sober and Christian temper ; that those that have falne may the more easily get up , and their heels be no more tript up , upon the like temptation : To confirme those that have been too long staggering ; To lay before us those high sins and dangers which attend the temptation to Atheisme from wicked mens prosperity and good mens afflictions , is this present Treatise made publick .

Here men may learne to avoid that desperate mistake of thinking Heaven guilty in compliance with wicked actings , or of questioning the purity or Justice of our Maker .

TRuly God is good unto Israel , even to such as are of a clean heart .

2. But as for me , my feet were almost gon : my feet had well nigh slipt .

3. For I was envious at the foolish , when I saw the prosperity of the wicked .

4. For there are no bands in their death : but their strength is firme .

PAg. 40. l. 9. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ib. l. ult. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 p. 42. l. 4. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . ib. 19. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 p. 43. l. 4. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . p. 46 : l. 12. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . ib. 19. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 p. 66. l. 6. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 p. 77. l. 24. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 p. 78. l. antep . enarranda . p. 114. l. 9. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ib. 11. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . p. 116. l. 15. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . ib. 16. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . p. 136. l. 5. oriatur . p. 191. l. 23. terras . p. 213. l. 1. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . p. 220. l. 24. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 .

Preface dele Nor.