This is gathered from verse 20.
Reason 1. Because he disposeth his judgements according to his certaine and perfect counsell, not rashly or confusedly, therefore he passeth over whom he pleaseth.
2. Because the punishments of sinne should not fall alike upon the godly and wicked, for then he would not be a just disposer of them.
3. Because it stands upon Gods glory to save those that flye unto him, as he promised them in his covenant.
Vse. This may serve to comfort us, in the time of publick calamities, wherein God revengeth the wickednesse of men.
Doctrine 5. God doth often times preserve those that are his, partly by the same meanes wherby he destroyeth others.
For it is said that the Arke saved Noah and those seven souls in the waters and by the waters. The same water that drowned others, by lifting up the Arke on high, was the meanes of their preservation. So Ieremy was delivered by the Babylonians, by whom the Iewes were oppressed.
Reason. Because God can use the same instrument to produce divers and contrary effects, and when he doth this, his glory is the more manifested; because thereby it appeares that the effect doth not depend upon the instrument, but upon God: nor doth this come to passe rashly, or by chance, but is ordered and directed by Gods certaine counsell.
Vse. This may serve to direct us, in the time of danger not to looke so much upon the meanes which God useth, as to depend upon God himselfe, who can turne any meanes unto the good of those that are his.
Doctrine 6. Baptisme is such a meanes of our spirituall salvation, as the water of the flood together with the Arke, was heretofore of the corporall safety of Noah and his family.