n of it, yet the general might silence us; all this shall be
no miss, no mar in the end. His work, at the end of accounts, shall
appear so complete, as if it had never had interruption. He is wise, and
knows what he doth, if this were not for his glory and his people's good,
certainly it should not be. Was not the people wandering in the
wilderness forty years a most strange work--a longer interruption of the
expected and begun voyage out of Egypt? What human reason would have
styled this work with perfection? Did they not often murmur against it?
Yet Moses calls this a perfect work also. What if the Lord be digging the
ground deeper in England, that the foundation may be the surer? What if
he be on a work of judgment, filling the cup of many deluded blasphemers,
that he may have another cup of wrath prepared? What if this be his great
purpose, to execute vengeance upon a profane generation, that will not
abide the very name and form of godliness, by those who pretend to the
name of it as their honour? What if the Lord hath defaced all that this
kingdom was instrumental in building up in England, that he alone may have
the glory in a second temple more glorious?(263) Many things there may be
in his mind, and "he is in one mind, and who can turn him? and what his
soul desireth, even that he doth, and this may be enough to satisfy us, he
sees and knows all his works from the beginning."

And without all controversy he hath provided it so, that the reproach of
his name shall be made up with(264) the more shining of his glory, and the
afflictions of his people shall be compensed with songs of deliverance.
May ye not give him so much credit, as ye would give to a skilful man in
his own trade? Ye know it is his name, "excellent in counsel, and
wonderful in working." Then take his work, expound it according to his
word, and not your apprehension. It may be his work appears not
excellent, nay, but if ye knew his counsel, ye would think it so. His
wonderful counsel makes all his works excellent, and therefore do not take
upon you to judge his works unless ye could wade the depth of his
counsels, else ye declare yourselves to be both ignorant and presumptuous.
"There is a time to build, and a time to cast down, a time for every
thing," saith the wise man. Now, I say, he knows the time and season, he
does every thing in his time. If ye come by a workman that is casting
down a house that in your appearance seems good, w