Page:A Discourse of Constancy in Two Books Chiefly containing Consolations Against Publick Evils.pdf/192

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Chap. 7.
of Conſtancy.
171

I call simple which are immediately from God; without the intervening of any humane Contrivance or Assistance: The mixt, are such as are from God too; but acted and performed by Men. Of the former kind are Famine, Barrenness, Earth-quakes, Inundations, Diseases, and Death: Of the latter, Tyrannies, Warres, Oppressions, Slaughters. The first sort are pure and innocent, as being deriv'd to us from the purest Fountain: In the other I will not deny, but there is some mixture of filth, inasmuch as they pass through, and are convey'd to us by the impure Channels of Affections. Man intermeddles therein, and then what wonder is it, if Sin and corruption do discover it self? That is the wonder that such is the merciful Providence of God, as can convert that poyson into Medicine, and that Sin into good. See you that Tyrant there, who breaths out nothing but threatnings and slaugh-

ter,